Ceremonies to Know

Find here a brief overview of rites, rituals, and traditions it may be useful to understand as we dive into Godspell here at Villanova.

Judaism

Weekly Shabbat (sabbath) includes a brief service after sundown Friday nights, followed by a longer service Saturday morning; Shabbat is a day of rest, prayer, and thanksgiving, on which Jewish people are prohibited from doing any 'work' (the definition of which varies based on the strictness of the denomination in question)
Typically, seating in synagogue is divided by gender. Men are required to cover their heads.
Friday evening services, which last about 45 minutes, followed by dinner and prayer at home
Saturday morning services last as long as 3-4 hours. These are followed by continued prayer and rest at home, including up to two more shared meals.
Each services includes readings from the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew scripture where the law is recorded. Typically the entire Torah would be read over the course of a year, although some reform denominations stretch this to a period of as long as three years.
A cantor leads prayers, called kaddish, which are both sung and spoken. The congregation will respond to the cantor's prayers, typically with "Amain" (translates roughly to "this is true" or "I believe this"). Prayers are spoken and sung in Hebrew; some synagogues will offer English prayerbooks as well
A rabbi gives lessons, called D'var Torah, based on that week's reading from the Torah.
The Torah is housed in an Ark in the synagogue. The congregation stands whenever the Ark is open.
At meals, prayers are recited over wine, spices, candles, and food.

WATCH: Cantor Azi Schwartz sings the Shema Yisrael, Judaism's oldest daily prayer

613 Laws—The essential commandments from the Hebrew scripture, that all Jews are commanded to follow
Rabbinic Laws—Additional laws outside the 613 that are considered solemn but regulated less severely than the 613. They can also be changed, unlike the 613
Shiva—seven days of intense mourning by family following the burial of a loved one. "Sitting shiva" requires sitting on low stools in clothes that were torn as part of mourning, and not changing, bathing, shaving, working, and wearing makeup
Kosher—dietary laws that are part of the 613. Kosher foods must be ritually slaughtered and meet specific purity standards, including that animals must have cloven hooves and chew their cud.
Passover—a seven-day celebration of the Exodus of Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Includes a Seder feast during which the meal (wine and matzoh, centrally) is blessed and which includes a reading of the Exodus story
Rosh Hashanah—Jewish New Year, an event that is both festive and solemn
Yom Kippur—a day of atonement, which includes a 25-hour fast

The sect of Christianity practiced at Villanova
A Catholic Service's Structure:
- Introductory rite—an entrance and greeting, a penitential rite, and praying the "Glory to God"
- Liturgy of the Word—a First (Old Testament) Reading, a responsorial psalm, a Second (New Testament) Reading, a Gospel reading, a homily (sermon), and the group Profession of Faith
- Liturgy of the Eucharist (bread and wine transformed into the body and blood of Christ)—the offering of bread and wine, the Eucharistic prayer, the recitation of the Lord's Prayer, a sign of peace, the receiving of the Eucharist, and a prayer after the Eucharist.
- Conclusion rite—a final prayer and blessing.
Hymns are often sung during the Introduction and Conclusion, the offering of the gifts, and the giving out of Eucharist. Additionally, some prayer parts (including the Glory to God, psalm, and parts of the Eucharistic prayer) can be sung through.

The sect of Christianity practiced by Godspell's original director John-Michael Tebelak
An Episcopal Service's Structure:
- Introductory Song and Prayer
- Liturgy of the Word—Four readings: one Old Testament, one psalm, one Epistle (letter written by St. Paul), and one Gospel; a sermon; a recitation of the Nicene Creed; a sign of peace
- Liturgy of the Table—the Eucharistic prayer, the recitation of the Lord's Prayer, the receiving of the Eucharist.
- Conclusion—a final prayer and blessing
Like Catholic services, the Episcopal service presents opportunities for song throughout, including the introduction, the conclusion, and the psalm. Some prayer parts may be sung through as well
The Episcopal Church has a well-known choral tradition; as such, some churches incorporate choral elements into Sunday and weekday services.

Baptism—a ritual cleansing by water with a dual purpose: (1) to initiate the baptized person into the Church; (2) to cleanse the person of the guilt of original sin
Eucharist—the reception of bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ, as Jesus gave to his apostles at their Last Supper before his death. Some sects of Christianity (including Catholicism) believe that the gifts are transfigured into the body and blood of Christ; others treat the act as symbolic.
The Lord's Prayer—a prayer taught by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, which continues to be used by Christians today. Christians are instructed to pray to the Lord as "Our Father"
Laying on of hands—a gesture used traditionally used in blessings and when invoking the Holy Spirit. It is often used in commissioning a person to a new task
Ashes—On Ash Wednesday, the day that begins Lent (see below), some Christians are marked with a cross of ashes on their foreheads. This publicly signals their identities as Christians and signifies repentance and acknowledgment of their mortality.
Lent—a traditional 40-day period of prayer, sacrifice, and charity in preparation for the memorial of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.
Easter—the day of celebration of Jesus' resurrection from the dead three days after his death on the cross. Easter is the key holiday for Christianity.

WATCH: An animated video explaining the importance of the Eucharist

ABOVE: A person receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday

BELOW: Jesus painting symbols on his disciple's faces in Godspell (1973 Film)