Cultural Diversity

Cultural Diversity

ELDER ProjectFairfield University School of Nursing

Jewish and Islam Religions

Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of Nursing Grant#D62HP06858

Judaism and IslamObjectives: Upon completion of this session,

the participants will be able to ….Compare and contrast the belief systems of

Judaism and Islam.Discuss the role of religion, traditional health

care beliefs, social values, and family structure of Judaism and Islam and the impact these factors have on health care.

Identify specific culturally sensitive practices that can be incorporated into your work with Jewish and Muslim patients.


Judaism and IslamIntroduction:Judaism and Islam are known as Abrahamic faiths

since they trace their lineage from Abraham in the Torah (the Five Books of Moses)Both accept the idea of one creator and the

importance of written scripture. Both religions are very rich and diverse with

numerous cultural inferences.Although they do share some similarities, many

differences exist in their practices and beliefs. The backgrounds of these different groups have

influenced the way they respond to illness and other life crises.


JudaismHistory:Jews were dispersed after an insurrection against

Roman authority and lived all over the world until founding the State of Israel in 1948.

Much of Jewish history has been marveled by persecution by other societies, from ancient Egypt and Babylon to the expulsion of the Jewish people from Spain in the 15th century and the Holocaust of World War II.

They developed various subcultures with distinct histories, languages, religious practices, customs and cuisine.


JudaismHistory:Groups within the U.S. include:

Orthodox (believe Jewish law is unchanging and mandatory),

Conservative (believe God’s laws change and evolve over time),

Reform and Reconstructionist (laws are guidelines that the individual can choose to follow or not).

Many Jews are also secular or atheist and for them, Judaism is a culture rather than a religion.


Judaism


JudaismOrigin of Name: Derived from the Hebrew -

Yehudim or Judah.

Founder: Abraham

Estimated Followers: 14 million12th largest religion in the worldThe majority of the Jews live in the United States

and Israel.

Original Language: Hebrew


JudaismHoly Book:The Hebrew Bible - Tanakh, the Old Testament:

inclusive of the Torah (Five Books of Moses). The Talmud is an oral tradition explaining and

interpreting the Tanakh. It includes the Mishnah, a code of Jewish law

Clergy: Rabbis, CantorsHouse of Worship: Synagogue (aka: Temple, Shul)

Main Day of Worship: Sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night.All holidays begin the night prior in this manner


JudaismRituals:Circumcision of the newly born Jewish male, Bar/Bat mitzvah- ceremony marking the coming of

age (13) for Jewish boys (bar) and girls (bat) mitzvah,Shabbat observance, Prayer - held in high regard, the Jewish prayer book

is called the siddur.

Religious Law:Halakhah, which covers prayer and ritual, diet, rules

regulating personal status and observances of holidays.


IslamHistory:Began in Mecca and was developed from the

Judeo-Christian tradition and cultural values of Nomadic Bedouin tribes of Arabia.

Islam spread to North Africa, Europe into Central Asia, as it expanded the new Islamic societies and adopted many of the customs they encountered.

There are two main denominations: Sunni (90%) and Shi’ite (10%)

Muslims in the U.S. come from many different cultures and schools of thought.


Top 10 largest Muslim populations

# Country Muslims

1. Indonesia 188,619,000

2. Pakistan 144,788,000

3. India 131,213,000

4. Bangladesh 118,512,000

5. Turkey 67,864,000

6. Iran 67,610,000

7. Egypt 64,647,000

8. Nigeria 54,891,000

9. Algeria 31,729,000

10. Morocco 31,642,0

Islam


IslamOrigin of the Name: Derived from an Arabic

word for submission.Founder: MohammedFollowers: 1.57 billionSecond largest religion in the world Original Language: Arabic


IslamHoly Book:The Quran or Koran which was revealed to the

prophet Mohammed over a period of about 20 years. It is believed to be the final revelation given by Allah

to mankind. The Hadith is a collection of traditions/sayings of the

prophet Mohammed and functions as a supplement to the Quran, giving guidance to Muslims for daily living.

Clergy: Imams

House of Worship: Mosque

Main Day of Worship: FridaySupported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of Nursing Grant#D62HP06858

IslamReligious Law: Sharia – the code of conduct

Rituals: Five important rituals (the pillars of Islam ) which include:

Shahadah -profession of faith, Salat –

Prayer 5 times a day on a prayer mat facing in the direction of Mecca.

Prayer includes movements such as bowing, prostrating and sitting.

It can be done in bed or sitting if the person is ill.Zakat –alms givingSawm –fasting during the holy month of RamadanHajj –

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Required once in a lifetime if physically and financially able.Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division

of Nursing Grant#D62HP06858

Judaism and IslamImportant Dates and Holidays:Both religions follow the cycle of the moon

(Lunar calendar) to determine when a holiday will occur, thus each year the holidays begin differently on the Gregorian calendar.The Jewish calendar is adjusted each year to

correspond with the seasons by adding a leap year occurs every few years.

The Islamic calendar does not adjust, thus holidays will appear at no certain time during the Gregorian calendar.


JudaismImportant Dates and Holidays:Pesach (Passover) –

Eight day celebration in commemoration of the escape of the Jewish people from Egypt.

Ritual dinner is conducted (Seder) that avoids bread and grain products in memory of the urgent departure from Egypt.

The name originated from the 10th plague that God sent upon the Egyptians killing the first born. Israelites marked their homes with blood of sacrificial

lamb and the angel of death “passed over” them, sparing their children.


JudaismImportant Dates and Holidays:Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) –

Occurs in September/October.It is a celebration of the Jewish New Year and a

time to reflect on the past year.Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) –

Special day of fasting and repentance to reconcile with the creator all mistakes over the last year.

Second holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Occurs ten days after the first day of Rosh

Hashanah.Purim-

Commemorates events in the Book of Ester in the Hebrew bible which describes how the Israelites avoided extermination.


JudaismImportant Dates and Holidays:Hanukkah-

Eight day festival of lights that is celebrated by lighting candles each night.

It celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt; it is considered a minor holiday.

Occurs sometime in November/December. Shabbat-

Holiest day of the Jewish calendar: day of rest and spiritual enrichment.

Represents the 7th day of creation when God rested from his work.

Observed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.


IslamImportant Dates and Holidays:Ramadan-

Holiest period in the Islamic year signifying when the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad.

Followers do not eat or drink anything from dawn until dusk.

They may consume a pre-dawn meal before fasting during the day.

Usually occurs in the 9th month of their calendar year.Eid al-Fitr-

Festival of breaking the fast that is celebrated on the final day of Ramadan where the fast is broken and people gather in the community to celebrate with a community meal.

The head of each household pays annual alms to a charity of their choice.

May see decorations and gift giving being done.Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of Nursing Grant#D62HP06858

IslamImportant Dates and Holidays:Eid al-Adha-

The festival of the sacrifice. It occurs during Hajj (pilgrimage) that celebrates the

willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael.Al-Hijra-

First day of Islamic New Year celebration. Marks the end of the period of persecution in Mecca and the

transition to a recognized faith community in Medina.Milad al-Nabi-

Celebration of the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Some sects do not celebrate this day.

Ashura- Day of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the

grandson of Muhammad.Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division of Nursing Grant#D62HP06858

FamilyJudaism IslamStrong family ties.Grandparents are

respected and offer financial support to young families and become dictators of family matters.

Grandmother is in charge of household chores.

Male parent has the authority in family matters.

Emphasis is on respect for older people.

Children have special responsibilities towards their parents.

Communal obligation to care for the elderly.


Diet and FoodJudaism Islam Practice kosher laws or Kashrut,

which describe how meat needs to be prepared (slaughtered) according to Jewish law.

Can only eat meat from animals that part the hoof and are cloven-footed and chew the cud, such as cattle, sheep, and goats. Other types of meat such as pork

and rabbit are forbidden (traif) Sea creatures with fins and

scales are allowed, but shellfish and crustaceans are not.

Most non-predatory fowl like chicken and turkey is allowed. Can only eat eggs from kosher fowl

Follow a halal diet, they will not consume the following: pork, alcohol, animals that were dead prior

to slaughtering, animals that have not been

slaughtered according to Islamic rites,

blood or blood products, carnivorous animals, birds of prey, land animals without

external ears.


Diet and FoodJudaism: Islam:All fruits and vegetables are

kosher, but must be washed thoroughly.

Cannot cook or eat dairy products with meat. This is based on a biblical

law that prohibits boiling a kid in its mother’s milk.

Use separate dishes, utensils, and pots for meat and dairy dishes.

Also wait a number of hours after eating meat before consuming any dairy products.

Practice ritual hand washing with associated blessings over various foods.

Followers will not take any medications that contain alcohol or pork by products unless they are life-saving drugs with no substitutes.

Will wash hands before and after meals.

Use of the right hand to eat and drink. If they need to be fed, use

the right hand if you have to touch the food.

Either hand is appropriate to use if using utensils.


Modesty/DressJudaism: Islam:Jewish modesty (tznuit) is

not just about how a man and a woman dresses, but how they behave.

Modesty implies a sense of humility and downplaying one’s attributes.

In the more traditional groups, women will cover their torso up to the neck, along with their arms and legs when in public.

Muslims also practice modesty (hejab) when in public or when they are in the presence of non-family members of the opposite sex.

Modesty is described as one of the five pillars of faith which includes restriction on dress, privacy and mentioning of anything related to bodily functions.

Modesty of dress includes: Clothing must cover the entire body,

including the neck and head. Clothing should not be form-fitting,

sheer or eye-catching. Men keep the area between their

navel and knees covered.


Modesty/DressJudaism: Islam:

Keeping covered is a way of separating oneself from regularity or mediocrity and increasing the individual to a higher level of respect.

It is also a way to protect their inner sense of who they are.

Orthodox women cover their hair as well – either with a scarf or a wig.

Orthodox men wear a hat or skull cap called a yarmulke/kippah

Orthodox men and women will sit separately in public.

Orthodox women do not wear pants.

Women only expose their face, hands and feet. A veil may be worn as a symbol of

modesty. A locket containing religious

writings is sometimes worn around the neck in a small leather bag. It is kept for protection and strength

and should not be removed by healthcare workers without permission.

Body exposure can prevent some from seeking health care.

Eye contact is not made between members of the opposite sex.

Touching is also not allowed between opposite genders. Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division


Judaism and IslamNote: Both religions prefer the same gender

healthcare practitioners in order to follow rules of modesty. Healthcare workers should ask permission to uncover parts of the body out of respect.

They should also knock on the door before entering in order to provide the patient time to cover themselves.


IllnessJudaism: Islam:

View illness as a part of a natural order that God sets in motion, but does not control. They recognize that illness and

suffering can strike anyone. They believe in actively seeking

healing through medical treatment.

Prayer is also an important means of healing. They believe that visiting the sick

is an important element of healing.

Their custom of performing a good deed (a mitzvah) is viewed as a religious obligation in which the community is supposed to comfort and care for the sick.

Do not have any specific codes for medical treatment of physical illnesses in the Qur’an.

The Islamic tradition recognizes the difference between health and illness as balance or imbalance.

Historically there has been a close relationship between religion and medicine and its practices.

Muslims use home-made herbal and medicinal tonics, dietary restrictions and amulets to ward off bad spirits.


IllnessIslam:

Male circumcision, cupping, bloodletting, cauterization and ligation can be used.

The contemporary Muslim approach to healthcare is based strongly on preventative measures such as personal hygiene, dietary restrictions and avoidance of addictive habits like smoking or overeating.

Some Muslims may perceive a sudden death or illness as a sign of punishment or test from God.

They tend to find strength in prayer and meditation.

Spiritual healing is sought by reciting from the Qur’an.Supported by DHHS/HRSA/BHPR/Division


Judaism and IslamConclusion:Religion, like culture, consists of patterns of

beliefs, values and behaviors acquired by members of a society.

There are different interpretations of principles and meanings within all religions.

Diversity in America includes the rich heritages and cultures that are seen in our population, that make up our country and coexist to create a nation.


Reference Christianity in View. Retrieved March 6, 2011 from

http://christianityinview.com/xncomparison.html. Healthcare Providers’ Handbook on Muslim Patients. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from

http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural/support_tools/islamgde2ed-s2.pdf International Strategy and Policy Institute. (1999). Guidelines for Health Care Providers Interacting

with Muslim Patients and Their Families. Retrieved February 26, 2011 from http://www.ispi-usa.org/guidelines.htm.

Taheri, N. (2008). Health Care in Islamic History and Experience. Retrieved January 9, 2011 from

http://ethnomed.org/cross-cultural-health/religion/health-care-in-islamic-history-and-experience. The Muslim World. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from http://btw.imb.org/news_map.asp Religion Statistics: Jews by Country. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/rel_jew-religion-jews

World Muslim Population Density. Retrieved April 15th, 2010 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/maps/muslim.html


Power Point Presentation Created by:Joyce Cunneen, MSN, RNFairfield University School of NursingELDER Project Education Coordinator

Monica Starr, BSN, RNFairfield University School of NursingELDER Project Program Coordinator


Cultural Diversity

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