So far, the Tamizh magazine ‘Madhuramurali’ of our Mission has carried several unique features of our Sanatana Dharma as also the essence of the Vedas and the Hindu Epics. Sri Sri Swamiji desires that we throw light on other ancient religions and cultures of the world as well, in Madhuramurali. Accordingly, Dr. A. Bagyanathan has been discussing about Judaism.

Like us the Jews also celebrate important occasion in their lives as religious functions. Let us have a look at few of these:

BRIT MILAH: ZEVED HABAT

This is to welcome the newborn. The religious rites performed for the birth of a male child is called Brit Milah and that for the female child is called Zeved Habat. This is performed on the eighth day of the birth of child and on this day the child is given a Hebrew name.

BAR MITZVAH: BAT MITZVAH

This rite is performed as a celebration of a child stepping into adolescence. It is the practice, on that auspicious day, to make the youth head the congregational worship and read a portion from the TORAH.

WEDDING

Wedding is a very important occasion in the life of Jews. The bride and the groom sit below a beautiful roof called a Chupah. It is the belief of the Jews that this beautiful Chupah represents the happy family life. At the end of the marriage celebrations the groom breaks a mirror with his foot. This is in memory of the Jewish community which has scattered to various parts of the world due to foreign invasions and aggressions.

DEATH/MOURNING:

Detailed procedures have been prescribed with regard to the rites for the dead. The first seven days is known as Shivah. They do not step out of their house during these seven days. Relatives and friends visit them to offer solace.

Next, for a month Shloshim is observed. In the case of dead parents a rite known as

A Velut Yud Bet Chodesh is observed after eleven months.

From this we find that our Sanatana Dharma and Jewish religious rites have many similarities.

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