Jewish Holiday and Calander

JEWISH HOLIDAY AND CALANDER

ROSH HASHANAH Tue - Wed Sat-Sun Sep 23-24

Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year, the literal meaning of Rosh Hashanah is head of the year. The beginning of this holiday marks a 10 day period of prayer, self examination and repentance, which culminate of the fast days of Yom Kippur. The ten days are actually referred to as Yamin Noraim which means the days of awe or the high holy days. One of the unique aspects to this holiday is the souruning of the shofar, using challah, eating apples, honey, and other sweet foods for a sweet new year.

YOM KIPPUR Mon Oct 2

This is considered to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Fasting is seen as fulfilling this biblical commandment. One of the customs is for Jews to seek out friends and family whom they feel they have wronged and ask for forgiveness. The fasting enables them to concentrate on their spiritual needs through prayer, repentance and self-improvement by putting aside physical desires.

SUKKOT Sat - Fri OCT 7-13

Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kipper and has many distinct traditions. Sukkot comes from a Hebrew word meaning booths or huts. This Jewish festival is in commemoration of the forty years of Jewish wandering in the desert after Sinai as well as giving thanks to the fall harvest. One of the traditions is to build a sukkah (booth or hut) and reside in them temporally were they eat and live during sukkot holiday.

ATZERET/ SIMCHAT TORAH Sat OCT 14

The Hebrew meaning of Simchat Torah is "rejoicing in the law". Simchat Torah is the celebration of the completions of the annual reading of the Torah, which is very joyous and fruitful. This holiday they affirm the view of the Torah as a tree of life and demonstrate living example of never-ending, lifelong study. One of the traditions is the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carrier or dance around the synagogue seven times. Even more the conclusion ends when the Deuteronomy is read and then the opening section of the B'reishit is read.

CHANUKAH Sat-Sat Dec 16-23

This holiday is for the commemoration of the victory of the Macabees over the armies in Syria in 165 B.C.E. and subsequent liberation and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. This holiday is an eight day joyous celebration with unique foods, jelly doughnuts and special songs and games. The Hebrew meaning of Chanukah is dedication.

TU BISH'VAT Mon Feb 13

Tu BiSh'vat is the Jewish Arbor Day, which the Hebrew meaning is "New Year of the Trees." Scholars believe this was the marking of the emergence of spring however today it has become a tree planting festival in Israel. However both Israelis and Jews around the world can be seen planting trees, the trees symbolize the memory of a love one or friend.

PURIM