March 24, 2009

• holidays and festivals

  This is just a short little thing outlining some Festivals since someone asked. I will try to answer serious questions. Hope you enjoy.
  
  Rosh Hashanah — The Jewish New Year
  
  Aseret Yemei Teshuva — Ten Days of Repentance
  The first ten days of the Jewish year (from the beginning of Rosh Hashanah until the end of Yom Kippur) are known as the Aseret Yemei Teshuva. During this time it is appropriate to practice Teshuvah, which is examining one’s deeds and repenting for sins committed against both G-d and one’s fellow man in anticipation of Yom Kippur.

  Yom Kippur — Day of Atonement
  Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation.
  
  Sukkot (Succoth/Feast of Tabernacles) – The holiday lasts seven days.

  Hanukkah — Festival of Lights
  The story of Hanukkah is preserved in the books of the First and Second Maccabees. The eight-day festival is marked by the kindling of lights — one on the first night, two on the second, and so on — using a special candle holder called a Chanukkiyah, or a Hanukkah menorah.

  Tu Bishvat-New Year of the Trees
  Tu Bishvat is the new year for trees. According to the Mishnah, it marks the day from which fruit tithes are counted each year, and marks the timepoint from which the Biblical prohibition on eating the first three years of fruit and the requirement to bring the fourth year fruit to the Temple in Jerusalem were counted. In modern times, it is celebrated by eating various fruits and nuts associated with the Land of Israel.

  Purim — Festival of Lots
  Purim commemorates the events that took place in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated by reading or acting out the story of Esther, and by making disparaging noises at every mention of Haman’s name. In Purim it is a tradition to masquerade around in costumes and to give Mishloakh Manot (care packages, gifts of food and drink) to the poor and the needy.

  Pesach — Passover
  Pesach (Passover) commemorates the liberation of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. No leavened food is eaten during the week of Pesach, in commemoration of the fact that the Jews left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have enough time to rise.

  Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance day
  
  Yom Hazikaron — Memorial Day
  Yom Hazikaron is the day of remembrance in honor of Israeli veterans and fallen soldiers of the Wars of Israel. The Memorial Day also commemorates fallen civilians, slain by acts of hostile terrorism.
  
  Yom Ha’atzmaut — Israel Independence Day
  Yom Ha’atzmaut is Israel’s Independence Day. An official ceremony is held annually on the eve of Yom Ha’atzmaut at Mount Herzl.
  
  Rosh Chodesh — the New Month
  The first day of each month and the thirtieth day of the preceding month, if it has thirty days, is a minor holiday known as Rosh Chodesh (head of the month). The one exception is the month of Tishrei, whose beginning is a major holiday, Rosh Hashanah.

  Update:
  Ones I forgot to add……Feast of Unleavened bread, Feast of weeks and Pentacost/Shavuot

  • 6:56 pm
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