What is Judaism?
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. Judaism is an over 3,000 year old monotheistic religion, and the first major monotheistic religion. Judaism is the tenth largest religion in the world, with around fifteen million followers. The Jewish people are incredibly widespread and diverse, following ancient and modern movements across the globe.
At Congregation Beth Sholom, and by extension, the Joy Greisen Jewish Education Center, we learn and teach Reform Judaism. When you come into our space, a place of welcoming and inclusiveness, you should know you are also entering our synagogue, our place of community and worship.
Congregation Beth Sholom began as a place for children and families. Up until 1958, the only Jewish services in Alaska were held by military chaplains on what is now JBER. CBS was started as a place for Jewish families to practice their faith with other Jewish families. Now, CBS seats 400 people, holds annual holiday events, and hosts the JEC.
Our sanctuary is home to our Ark and Torah scrolls. Our sanctuary is also home to pieces of art made by and donated by our congregates, including two lovely handmade quilts, and two stained glass windows. The congregation is currently lead by Rabbi Abram Goodstein.
At Congregation Beth Sholom, and by extension, the Joy Greisen Jewish Education Center, we learn and teach Reform Judaism. When you come into our space, a place of welcoming and inclusiveness, you should know you are also entering our synagogue, our place of community and worship.
Congregation Beth Sholom began as a place for children and families. Up until 1958, the only Jewish services in Alaska were held by military chaplains on what is now JBER. CBS was started as a place for Jewish families to practice their faith with other Jewish families. Now, CBS seats 400 people, holds annual holiday events, and hosts the JEC.
Our sanctuary is home to our Ark and Torah scrolls. Our sanctuary is also home to pieces of art made by and donated by our congregates, including two lovely handmade quilts, and two stained glass windows. The congregation is currently lead by Rabbi Abram Goodstein.
A Virtual Tour of The Sanctuary
What Judaism Means For Your Family at The JEC
At the Joy Greisen Jewish Education Center, all families are invited to participate in certain aspects of Jewish life and culture. These include: participating in mifgash, our daily morning assembly, participating in our short Shabbat program on Friday mornings, joining us for monthly Sing-Along Shabbat after school, learning Hebrew words, celebrating our holidays with us, and adhering to Kosher dietary practices when you pack your child's lunch.
Keeping Kosher
Kosher, or Kashrut laws, are the set of dietary practices followed by many Jewish people. The word kosher literally means "fit," and refers to foods that adhere to Jewish dietary law. The JEC is a kosher facility, so when packing your child's lunch, we ask that you help us adhere to kosher practices.
According to Kosher law, foods can be divided into four categories, kosher meat, kosher dairy, pareve, and traife.
According to Kosher law, foods can be divided into four categories, kosher meat, kosher dairy, pareve, and traife.
Kosher Meat
Beef Chicken Turkey Lamb Moose Reindeer Goat |
Kosher Dairy
Milk Cheese Butter (Must be milked from a kosher animal) |
Pareve
Eggs Fish Nut Butters Fruits Vegetables |
Traife
Pork Shrimp Lobster Bear Insects |
Kosher law allows the consumption of the meat of mammals with cloven hooves that chew their cud (such as sheep, cows, and reindeer), the meat of most birds (excluding birds of prey), and the consumption of fish that have fins and scales (such as tuna, salmon, halibut).
Kosher law thus forbids the consumption of the meat of animals that do not fit the above descriptions. E.g., Shrimp, and scallops do not have fins or scales; Catfish has fins, but no scales; Pigs have cloven hooves but do not chew their cud; Rabbits neither have cloven hooves nor chew their cud. Foods that are not kosher, are traife, a word that literally means "torn."
Kosher law forbids the consumption of meat and diary together. There are many explanations for why this, ranging from spiritual, to moral, and to practical.
Foods that are kosher, but fit into neither meat or dairy categories, are pareve, meaning "neutral" and may be consumed with either meat or dairy. These include, but are not limited to, breads, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Kosher law thus forbids the consumption of the meat of animals that do not fit the above descriptions. E.g., Shrimp, and scallops do not have fins or scales; Catfish has fins, but no scales; Pigs have cloven hooves but do not chew their cud; Rabbits neither have cloven hooves nor chew their cud. Foods that are not kosher, are traife, a word that literally means "torn."
Kosher law forbids the consumption of meat and diary together. There are many explanations for why this, ranging from spiritual, to moral, and to practical.
Foods that are kosher, but fit into neither meat or dairy categories, are pareve, meaning "neutral" and may be consumed with either meat or dairy. These include, but are not limited to, breads, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Example Kosher Lunches
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Salmon Pita Bread Bell Peppers Banana Pareve
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Hard-Boiled Eggs Crackers Celery Apple Slices Pareve
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String Cheese Tortilla Chips Cherry Tomatoes Blueberries Kosher Dairy
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Turkey Slices Whole Wheat Bread Carrot Sticks Orange Slices Kosher Meat
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Jewish Holidays
Shabbat
Shabbat, or Shabbos, is the Jewish Sabbath. On Friday evenings, we celebrate the end of the week, and the coming of our day of rest on Saturday. We welcome Shabbat with the lighting of the Shabbat candles, blessings over the Kiddush cup, and over the Challah, the braided bread traditionally eaten on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays.
Shabbat begins on Friday evening at sundown, and lasts until sundown on Saturday. Shabbat is considered to be the best time for religious study and discussion, for spending time in the community and with family, and for resting. Work is forbidden during Shabbat. Traditionally this includes 39 "melakhoth," or types of work, which include various labors associated with farming, sewing, and building, and "kindling a fire." Among strict adherents of Jewish law, "kindling a fire" is extended to activities that involve the use of electricity, such as turning on lights, or driving a car. The celebration of the end of Shabbat is called Havdalah, literally meaning "separation."
Shabbat begins on Friday evening at sundown, and lasts until sundown on Saturday. Shabbat is considered to be the best time for religious study and discussion, for spending time in the community and with family, and for resting. Work is forbidden during Shabbat. Traditionally this includes 39 "melakhoth," or types of work, which include various labors associated with farming, sewing, and building, and "kindling a fire." Among strict adherents of Jewish law, "kindling a fire" is extended to activities that involve the use of electricity, such as turning on lights, or driving a car. The celebration of the end of Shabbat is called Havdalah, literally meaning "separation."
Contact us
Joy Greisen Jewish Education Center
7525 East Northern Lights Boulevard Anchorage, Alaska 99504 |