Social interaction is a universal human need, and people therefore choose to live in groups, that is to say, in communities.

There are many different types of communities: a school is a community, and so is a town, or a state.

There are also sub-communities, which form around: shared interests, hobbies, special needs, etc.

Not every group of people, however, is a community. For a group to be considered a community, its members require:

• Shared needs
• Shared goals
• Shared values (optional)

The Jewish community in the Diaspora came to replace the framework that had existed in Eretz Yisrael, the Jewish homeland, after they left, or were exiled from it. During their Exile, Jews formed communities in the countries where they lived, which provided a framework of Jewish life and met the unique needs of their existence

Let’s first take a look at some Jewish communities:

Browse the Websites maintained by various Jewish communities, and explore the unique characteristics of each community.
Go to the websites  
Go to the Communities Chart, For each community, list:

A custom, a traditional dish, a traditional garment, or any other unique characteristic.

Go to the Communities Chart

  After you have become acquainted with some of the communities, go to the Writing Page and answer the following questions:

• Define the term, "community"
• In your own words, explain what a "Jewish community" is.

Enter the Writing Page

The pictures below, by the painter Orit Lindenbaum, Orit Lindenbaum depict Jews performing various mitzvot. Some of these mitzvot can be performed alone, i.e., individually, without a group of people, - while others can only be performed in a group.

If the picture describes a mitzvah that can be performed alone, color its frame ORANGE .
If the picture describes a mitzvah that must be performed in a group, color its frame BLUE.

We read that some mitzvot can only be performed in a group. Some forms of Tefillah (Prayer, prayer services), for instance, require a minyan (quorum of ten).
Other mitzvot can only be performed by people with specific expertise, e.g., a mohel or a shochet. The Jewish community provided for the needs of Jews by enabling them to perform mitzvot and preserve their unique Jewish identity, through its services