Worship Requirements

Worship Requirements A rabbi (teacher) is the appointed spiritual leader who guides and represents the congregation. In addition to the rabbi, there are elected layleaders, both in the congregation and in the community. Rabbis may be addressed as “chaplain” although they are frequently referred to as “rabbi.” Jewish chaplains may belong to one of four Jewish traditions (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or Reconstructionist), and support requirements will vary according to the tradition to which the Jewish chaplain and congregation subscribe. Worship services are usually conducted by a rabbi, often assisted by a cantor. The cantor is a synagogue official who sings or chants liturgical music and leads the congregation in prayer. Any knowledgeable Jew may conduct worship services in the absence of a rabbi. There are fixed times for public worship. A minyan, or quorum of 10 males, is required for a public worship service. When the minyan is not available, individuals must worship privately. In the days of Abraham and Moses, priests or kohanim supervised and/or conducted the holiest acts of faith. The priests were descendants of Aaron; Moses was a descendant of the tribe of Levi. The rest of the Levitical tribe assisted the priests. Place of Worship The public place of worship for Jews is the synagogue. It is usually oriented to the east so that worshipers can face Jerusalem when they pray. The synagogue contains the Ark which houses the Torah. Equipment for Worship The basic equipment needed for worship is as follows: The Torah, or the Scroll of the Law, and its accouterments; prayer books; Hebrew Bible; yarmulkahs (skullcaps); tallits (prayer shawls); and t’phillin/phylacteries, which are worn by males at morning prayer (except on the Sabbath). A male Jew is required to keep his head covered while in the Orthodox synagogue. If these items are not available, the National Jewish Welfare Board will arrange to make one set available per chapel. The Tall/Tallis/Talith For major daytime worship services, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reconstructionist male members of the congregation wear a tallit or prayer shawl (wearing of the prayer shawl is optional for Reform male members). The leader at a service is almost invariably so garbed. Such prayer shawls are available to military personnel from the National Jewish Welfare Board, 145 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016. Tefillin/T-fillin/T'Phillin on Jewish men, who are strict observers of the Jewish tradition, wear tefillin their foreheads and arms during weekday morning worship. Generally, 2-47