Jewish Traditions Explained

It is common in today’s Jewish community for families to invite their non-Jewish friends and colleagues to commemorate important events with them. The events may be joyful or sorrowful, but the presence of loved ones makes them memorable. Perhaps you are invited to an event at which you don’t know what to expect, or you wish to familiarize your guests with traditions that are new to them.

If you would like to answer more in-depth questions about why ceremonies follow these traditions, please reference the links to the right.

If you need information for items not included on this page, please contact Jconnect via e-mail at jconnect@shalomdc.org or through the Contact Us page

Below are listed some of the most common Jewish practices that the greater community may encounter. View each explanation as a starting point. There is always so much more to learn!

Visit the websites listed below for more in-depth explanations.