Guide to Jewish Holidays

Guide to Jewish Holidays

The Jewish calendar is a sacred cycle of time combining biblical, rabbinic, and modern holidays. Each holiday has its own character, commandments, and spiritual meaning. Understanding the annual cycle is essential to participating in Jewish life.

Tishrei — The High Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah (New Year): Celebrated on 1-2 Tishrei. Commemorates the creation of the world and the coronation of God as King. Key commandments:

• Shofar: 100 blasts of the ram's horn each day (except Shabbat). The blasts are: tekiah (sustained), shevarim (three broken), teruah (nine rapid), and tekiah gedolah (long sustained).
• Tashlich: Ceremony of casting crumbs into water, symbolizing casting away sins (Micah 7:19).
• Festive meals: Apple with honey (for a sweet year), round challah (cycle of the year), fish/lamb head (to be head, not tail).

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): 10 Tishrei. The holiest day of the year. 25-hour fast (no eating, drinking, bathing, leather, or relations). Five prayer services: Kol Nidrei (evening), Shacharit, Musaf, Minchah, and Neilah (closing). The book of Jonah is read at Minchah.

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): 15-21 Tishrei. Commemorates the clouds of glory that protected Israel in the wilderness.

• Sukkah: Temporary booth with a roof of plant material (sechach) where one eats and ideally sleeps.
• Arba'at Haminim (Four Species): Lulav (palm), etrog (citron), hadasim (myrtle), aravot (willow). They are waved in six directions during Hallel.

Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah: 22-23 Tishrei. Shemini Atzeret is a holiday independent from Sukkot. Simchat Torah celebrates the conclusion and restarting of the annual Torah reading cycle. Dancing with the Torah scrolls (hakafot) is the central expression.

Hanukkah — Festival of Lights

25 Kislev to 2-3 Tevet. Commemorates the Maccabees' victory over the Seleucids and the rededication of the Temple (164 BCE). Commandments:

• Menorah lighting: One additional candle each night (shamash + 1-8 candles). Placed in a window or doorway.
• Customs: Eating oil-fried foods (latkes/sufganiyot), playing dreidel (spinning top), giving Hanukkah gelt (money).
• Full Hallel: Recited every day.

Purim

14-15 Adar (or Adar II in leap year). Commemorates the salvation of the Jews in the Persian Empire (Book of Esther). Commandments:

• Megillah (Esther) reading: Twice — evening and morning.
• Mishloach manot: Sending at least two foods to a friend.
• Matanot la'evyonim: Gifts to the poor.
• Festive meal: Joyful meal with wine.

Passover (Pesach)

15-22 Nisan. Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Judaism's central holiday.

• Chametz: Total prohibition of owning or eating leavened foods (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt). The home is thoroughly cleaned before the holiday.
• Seder: Family ceremony on the first (and second) night. The Seder follows the Haggadah: kaddesh, urchatz (washing), karpas (vegetable), yachatz (breaking matzah), maggid (telling the story), rochtzah (washing), motzi matzah (blessing over matzah), maror (bitter herbs), korech (Hillel sandwich), shulchan orech (meal), tzafun (afikoman), barech (blessing), hallel (praise), nirtzah (acceptance).

Shavuot

6-7 Sivan. Commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Customs:

• All-night study (Tikkun Leil Shavuot): Spending the entire night studying Torah.
• Reading of Ruth: For its harvest setting and Ruth's conversion.
• Dairy meals: Cheesecake, blintzes, milk.

Tisha B'Av

9 Av. Fast day commemorating the destruction of both Temples (586 BCE and 70 CE), the expulsion of Jews from Spain (1492), and other tragedies. The Book of Lamentations (Eichah) is read. In synagogue, one sits on the floor or low chairs, without bright light.

Modern Holidays

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Day): 27 Nisan. Commemorates the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Candles are lit, sirens sound in Israel, names are recited.

Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day): 5 Iyar. Celebrates the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Hallel (with blessing) is recited, dancing, barbecues. Many precede it with Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day).

Tu BiShvat (New Year of Trees): 15 Shevat. Environmental awareness day; eating fruits typical of the Land of Israel and planting trees.

"These are My appointed feasts that you shall proclaim at their appointed times" (Leviticus 23:2) — the Jewish calendar is a spiral of holiness.