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Jewish Questions and Answers

Why is a child's Jewishness determined by his mother?
According to Jewish law, a child is considered a Jew if his mother is a Jew, whether his father is Jewish or not. If the mother is not Jewish, the child is not Jewish even though the father may be Jewish.

Why are Jewish boys circumcised?
When God entered into a covenant with Abram, He swore to make Abram exceedingly fruitful, that His special relationship with him and his descendants would endure forever, and that he would give him and his descendants (through Isaac, it is later confirmed) "all the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession." (Genesis 17: 6-8)

The part of the covenant Abram and his offspring were to keep was to circumcise all baby boys at eight days of age. The circumcision is the sign of the covenant.

Why are Jews married under a chupa (wedding canopy)?
Since the Middle Ages, Jewish marriages have taken place under a canopy made of a large piece of material held by four poles - the chupa. A number of reasons are given for this tradition. Some hold that the fabric canopy is a reminder of the tents in which the Israelites lived during their wilderness wanderings. Other authorities say the chupa stems from the days bride and groom were covered in garlands at the marriage ceremony. Still others see the canopy as a symbol of the room in which the new bride and groom consumate their marriage.

Why does the Jewish bridegroom break a glass?
Again, a number of explanations exist for this ritual. The most popular is that the breaking glass reminds the Jews of the destruction of their Temple, ensuring that at the hour of their greatest joy they will not forget this terrible tragedy and all it meant for the Jewish people. Another reason is that the noise of breaking glass will appease evil spirits intent on attacking the marriage.

Why do Jews use BCE and CE rather than BC and AD?
The BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini, Year of our Lord) method of dating is clearly a Christian system. Jews, not recognizing Jesus as Messiah but cogniscent of the need to have a dating method that is in synch with the rest of the world's identify the period we call AD as the "Common Era" (CE), and the period before as "Before the Common Era" (BCE).

Why are Jews averse to using the term "New Testament"?
The very term "New Testament" implies that the Jewish Bible is "Old" and has been superceded by the "Christian Bible". Just referring to a "New" Testament also gives credence to that Christian belief that it fulfills the promises and teachings of the Jewish Bible.

Why is the Jewish Bible called the Tanach?
The Jewish Bible is divided into three parts: Torah (Five Books of Moses), Neviim, (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Holy Writings). Tanach is an acronym for the three.