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The Jewish daily routine

The diversity among the Jewish people means that daily routines and holiday observance vary. Two main cultural divisions exist among Orthodox Jews: the Sephardim (from North African countries and Spain and Portugal) and the Ashkenazim (primarily from Eastern Europe). That’s why Israel has a Sephardi and Ashkenazi chief rabbi.

Following is the typical daily routine of religious Jews in Israel today. Though the day begins in the evening, according to the account of God’s creation, the ritual day begins in the morning. A religious Jew rises early and upon awakening, directs his thoughts toward God. While he focuses on God, he cannot speak the Name of God before he washes for he would be dishonoring God’s Holy Name.

After showering, he puts on the arba-kanfot, an undershirt with the tzitzit (fringes) sewn on the four corners.

He goes to the synagogue to pray the Shacharit (morning prayers) with at least nine others, to make a (minyan*), 10 men above the age of 13. There he covers himself with the tallit (prayer shawl). He stands while praising the Lord in prayer, his tallit covering his head to remind him that we’re sheltered under God’s wings.

Then the tefillin (phylacteries) are put on, first on the left arm and than on the forehead. In the boxes attached to the tefillin are verses four through nine from Deuteronomy 6; verses 13 through 21 from Deuteronomy 11; and verses one through 10 and 11 through 16 from the book of Exodus. He has prayed “the watchword of Israel.”

“Sh’ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad.”
(“Hear O Israel, the Lord, our God, the Lord is one.”)

This is part of the morning prayer: “Master of the universe, Who reigned before any form was created, at the time when His will brought all into being—then as King was His Name proclaimed. After all has ceased to be, He, the Awesome One, will reign alone. It is He Who was, He Who is, and He Who shall remain, in splendor.”

A religious Jew prays three times a day, always turning toward Jerusalem (the site of the Temple) as he prays. The Minchah (afternoon prayers), which include these words: “Bless the Eternal One, O my soul; The Eternal One, my God, you are very great and awesome. Radiance and beauty is Your garment. You are clothed in light as in a robe.”

The third prayer is the Maariv (evening prayer): “Lay us down to sleep…in peace, raise us erect, our King, to life; and spread over us the shelter of your peace. Set us aright with good counsel from before Your Presence, and save us for Your Name’s sake.”

The life of a religious Jew doesn’t only consist of prayers, but also of commandments that he observes in his home. He keeps a kosher (ritually clean) kitchen. He not only abstains from eating meat and fish God deems unclean for Jews, he also separates dairy food from meat. A religious Jew waits between three and six hours after eating meat to eat dairy products. Because dairy foods are digested quickly, he’s permitted to eat meat an hour after eating milk products.

Before eating he washes his hands while reciting a blessing, using a two-handled jug and pouring the water over his hands three times. A meal begins with a blessing over bread that’s been sprinkled with salt. A blessing of thanksgiving is also said after eating. In this way, he differentiates between asking God’s blessing over the food beforehand and thanking Him afterward for His bountiful provision.

* The 10 men in the minyan refer to Abraham's plea to spare Sodom and Gomorrah if “ten righteous men” could be found in the city.