This Is Where I Leave You

Modern Judaism is expressed through a variety of denominations and interpretations, but the Jewish faith as a whole shares certain fundamental beliefs, several of which appear in This Is Where I Leave You. Jewish teachings are based on the Hebrew Bible (what Christians call the Old Testament). The holiest of books, the Torah, are the first five books of the Bible that were given to Moses through divine revelation. In the synagogue, the house of worship (which may also be referred to as “temple” or “shul”), the Torah is preserved on handwritten scrolls that are kept in a cabinet or container called an ark, which is opened on certain holy occasions. As a sign of respect, many Jewish congregants don a covering when entering the synagogue. Women cover their hair and limbs with a scarf, shawl, and skirt, and men might wear a prayer shawl and a small, brimless cap called a yarmulke. In some congregations, women and children sit apart from the men. A rabbi leads worship services.

Most Jewish prayers are meant to be recited in Hebrew, which Jewish children are encouraged to study. While prayer infuses the observant Jew’s life as a daily practice, certain prayers are meant to be recited by a group, specifically a minyan comprised of 10 Jewish men. One of the prayers that requires a minyan to be most effective is the Mourner’s Kaddish, which is meant to be recited in observance of a death. The Kaddish, a traditional prayer written and recited in Aramaic, directs the living to accept the justice and goodness of God.

Shiva refers to the set of rituals and observances that follow a death and are intended to help the living gather to support one another in mourning and healing. The ritual period begins on the day of the funeral and continues for seven days. Immediate relatives gather in the deceased person’s home to receive condolence visits from friends and family. Traditionally, the mourners sit on low chairs or stools as an indication of bereavement. Mirrors and reflective surfaces are covered, and a memorial candle is lit that will burn for the period of seven days. Shiva typically pauses for the Sabbath or Shabbat, the traditional day of rest, as mourners will likely attend worship services with others. The Jewish Shabbat lasts from sunset on Friday night to just after sundown on Saturday. The observance of shiva, known as “sitting shiva,” is meant to comfort the bereaved, strengthen the community, and set aside a time for reflection, prayer, and condolence that will help the mourner return to the world.

While a person can convert to Judaism, an infant is considered Jewish if the birth mother is Jewish. A non-Jew is referred to as a “gentile.” Jen, Judd’s wife, gets upset with Mort, Judd’s father, when he notes that their child would not have been Jewish because Jen is a gentile.