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Chapter 1 Thought Questions

1. What comprises the Tanach?  What are its component parts? How is it the same, and how does it differ from the Christian Bible?
   
2. Each of the following terms applied to an aspect of Jewish liturgical practice.  Define the term and discuss its purpose in Jewish life as you understand it.
1. bar (or bat) mitzvah
2. minyan
3. rabbi
4. chazzan
5. seder   
   
3. Why do you think that it was so important to the Jewish community as a whole to “gladden the heart of the bride” that it became a cultural imperative?  What implications did that have for the art of music?
   
4. The Sabbath morning liturgy has four principal sections.  Identify and briefly describe each, noting its musical content, if any.
   
5. Identify some specific settings outside the synagogue in which music plays an important role in Jewish life.  Why do you think music is so prominent on those occasions?