Early Jews in America

The first communities of Jews arrived in the 1600s. In September 1654, twenty-three  Jews fleeing Brazil landed in New Amsterdam (New York). These refugees were Sephardi, ​spanish-speaking descendants of those expelled from the Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition. In 1658, fifteen Sephardi  Jews formed a community Newport, Rhode Island where the Touro Synagogue, America's first Jewish house of worship. Learn more below.

Judaism: Tzedakah 

Jews are obligated to give 10% of their yearly earnings in tzedakah 

Tzedakah (צדקה)→ from the root tzedek,  justice or righteousness 

Maimonides presents ways of giving Tzedakah in a ladder with eight levels

Islam: Zakat

Obligatory charity → Muslims who are able are required to give 2.5% of all savings in Zakat

Zakat (زكاة‎) → From the Arabic root to purify 

Is meant to purify both a person’s soul and their wealth
One of the five pillars of Islam

Islam: Sadaqah

Any act of voluntary charity - even a smile counts!

Sadaqah (صدقة‎) → From the Arabic root sidq,  sincerity​​

​In Islam, having faith is linked to helping others ​ 

 Salaam, Shalom, Welcome!

שלום      سلام     Welcome!​​

Journal reflection 1

Sulayman’s tradition stood out because he that the day after Eid he goes to Six Flags which I do too. It is similar because I do it too but it is different because he didn’t say that he stayed at a relative’s house. Usually I go to my cousins house the night before because she lives near Six Flags. My family, my aunt, uncle, and grandpa all go to my cousins house we usually stay overnight and go to six flags together.

Something that surprised me was that Junaid was also Pakistani and knows about parata. I also eat parata with Slaan.

Another tradition is that my whole family comes for Eid and usually we don’t always get together so it’s special.

Reflection 2

I learned about other people’s traditions. Some throw bread in running water before the new year. Some visit their grandparents on Jewish holidays such as Shabbat. Some peoples birthday are even in the holiday time. Some of their traditions resemble mine. I always visit my grandparents every summer vacation. One of my traditions that resembled no ones’ was that to break fast. I eat 3 dates and drink tea or water before maghrib prayer.

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Reflection 3

Becki’s family tradition:
Becki’s Yom Kippur tradition is exactly like mine. I go to a park too, and try to eat before the sun goes down. Becki also said that her family kind of makes up their own tradition and my family does that too. (we are not very formal).
My family traditions:
For shabbat we usually have dinner at 6:30 - 7:00 because the meal takes a while to prepare. After shabbat my brother and I get candy because “shabbat is sweet.” and passover my uncle, aunt, and cousin come over and my friends do too. My mom's friend also comes over. Our seder is very short, and we have this awesome haggadah which has pictures and comics. I always find the afikomen!

reflection 4

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