In the life of a Jew, there are many important things. Most Jews take pride in the background and their religion. This religion has many elements to it. Being a Jew isn't always just about where one is born or who their ancestors are, rather it is a religion based upon sacred rituals and festivities. These many rituals and festivities are fundamentally important and are part of their everyday life. .
The word Judaism has two meanings. It can mean the civilization of the Jews, the culture of those who claim to be Jews or whom others call Jewish. It can also mean the religion of the Jews. What, then, binds all people who claim to be Jewish into one people? Just what is Judaism and what does it mean to be Jewish? How can we give a single definition of Jewish civilization? There are African Jews and Persian Jews, Jews in Israel and Jews in the United States, British Jews and French Jews, Russian Jews and Indian Jews. All are a part of the Jewish civilization, yet all have differing views, rituals, and customs. A Jew born in Brooklyn might feel like a stranger when visiting the Jewish community in Israel, even though there are some things that Jews everywhere have in common. Nor is defining the Jewish religion simple. It is made up of many parts: beliefs concerning God, the universe, and humanity; customs and ceremonies; a long tradition expressed in the writings of many great thinkers; common history; and the people called the Jews. Nevertheless, a Jew may share in the beliefs of Judaism about God and yet not feel a strong tie to Jews who regularly attend synagogue.
There are many ways to define the word ritual. The definition of ritual in relationship to religion as "prescribed order of a religious ceremony. The established form for a ceremony, the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony. A customarily repeated, often formal act, or series of acts."" (1) The Jews think of a ritual as a way of meeting with God or renewing their commitments that they have made as Jews, that is the commitment to live according to the will of God.
