Jewish Holidays and Occasions
Hanukkah (The Festival of Lights)
This Jewish holiday is not the “Jewish Christmas” as at times assumed – as a norm it predates Christmas. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days, beginning on the 25th of Kislev, around mid- to late-December.
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Days of Awe
As per the Jewish faith the Days of Awe are the 10 days from the start of Rosh Hashanah to the end of Yom Kippur. This is an important period, which always occurs in the autumn and is devoted to introspection, repentance, and atonement for sins. According to Judaism, it is during the Days of Awe that God decides on each person’s fate in the next year.
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Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year” and is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This Jewish holiday is a solemn and holy time, no work is allowed on Rosh Hashanah, and most of the day is spent in the synagogue.
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Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement)
Yom Kippur, celebrated on the 10th day of Tishri, is the most important and solemn of Jewish holidays. Yom Kippur is an important occasion on which even non-practicing Jews are most likely to attend synagogue, abstain from work or fast. It is a day of intensive reflection, repentance, fasting, worship and self-denial.
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Passover (Pesach)
Pesach or Passover is a spring holiday commemorating the Exodus, one of the most important events in the history of Judaism and an important foundation for all Jewish beliefs. Passover remembers the liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt in the time of Moses.
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Sabbath
It is widely known that the Sabbath is Saturday, the day of the week on which Jews are forbidden to work. However as per Jewish thinking, the Sabbath is not about rules but joyful celebration and rest. It is considered a gift from God and is the day Jews can relax, be with family, study and reflect.
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Purim
In Judaism, Purim is a happy spring holiday that includes a festive meal, gift-giving and costumes. Purim is thus sometimes nicknamed “the Jewish Mardi Gras” or “the Jewish Halloween.”
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Sukkot (Festival of Booths)
Sukkot is a harvest holiday, similar to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. It also one of the “Pilgrim Festivals” (the others are Pesach and Shavuot) on which Jews used to make pilgrimages to the Temple with offerings for God from the harvest.
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Tu B'Shevat (New Year for Trees)
Sukkot is a harvest holiday, similar to the American holiday of Thanksgiving. It also one of the “Pilgrim Festivals” (the others are Pesach and Shavuot) on which Jews used to make pilgrimages to the Temple with offerings for God from the harvest.
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Shavuot
Shavuot remembers the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel when they assembled at Mount Sinai. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. Shavuot begins in the evening of May 23, 2015 and ends on May 25, 2015.
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