Exploring jewish life

In order to understand better the ideas, setting and context of "Fatelessness" we need to understand better how do Jewish life and traditions are. To understand it better I realize the following tasks:

Task 1: Explain the seven pilars to Judaism

Tefillin:These are small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment from the Torah which are wore by observant Jews during weekdays morning prayers. It consist in a black leather strip which goes around the body of the person (specially arms and neck) and a little box which is placed in the forehead.:

Mezuzah:A mezuzah mounted on the doorpost designates the home as Jewish, reminding us of our connection to God and to our heritage.A mezuzah is not, contrary to popular belief, the outer container. The mezuzah is actually the parchment scroll within, on which the "Shema" -- a biblical passage declaring the oneness of God -- is handwritten by an expert scribe.The mezuzah is also a symbol of God's watchful care over the home.

(http://www.chabad.org/generic_cdo/aid/278476/jewish/Mezuzah.htm)

Shofar:The shofar (שופר‎) is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, though it can also be made from the horn of a sheep or goat. It makes a trumpet-like sound and is traditionally blown on Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. There are many symbolic meanings associated with the shofar and one of the best known has to do with the Akedah, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.(http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/whatisashofar.htm)






 Hanukkah: also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah)









Kosher: Kosher food is food that meets Jewish dietary laws, or kashrut, which comes from the Hebrew word for "fit" or "proper." Any food can be called kosher food if it adheres to Jewish law, orhalacha. Conversely, foods labeled as "Jewish" aren't necessarily kosher. Kreplach, cholent,kugel, latke, and kishka are all traditionally Jewish foods, but if they are not prepared in accordance with kashrut, they will not be kosher food.

Tzedakah: Tzedaka is a Hebrew word literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify charity. It is based on the Hebrew word Tzedek meaning righteousness, fairness or justice, and it is related to the Hebrew word Tzadik meaning righteous as an adjective (or righteous individual as a noun in the form of a substantive). In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just, which Judaism emphasises are important parts of living a spiritual life.

 Sabbath:Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish weekand the Jewish day of rest. On Shabbat, Jews recall the Genesis creation narrative in which God creates the Heavens and the Earth in six days and rests on the seventh. Shabbat observance also entails refraining from a range of activities prohibited on Shabbat, such as lighting a fire and cooking.(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat)