Pesach lasts eight days, which commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses and led through the Red Sea to freedom.
We do not eat any Chametz (leavened bread) during Passover, we eat Matzah instead.
Pesach is generally celebrated with family meals, primarily the Seder which is held on the first and second nights. Traditional foods are eaten, the Haggadah is recited recalling our journey and thanking Hashem for the miracles He did many years ago.
On the second day of Pesach we begin counting the Omer.
Shavuot is the culmination of a seven-week Omer counting period, which started on the second day of Pesach and which celebrates the occasion when God gave us the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.
We mark this by learning the Torah all night, having festive meals and eating milky foods to commemorate the fact that once we had received the Torah, the consumption of milky foods became permissible.
Shavuot is the culmination of a seven-week Omer counting period, which started on the second day of Pesach and which celebrates the occasion when God gave us the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.
We mark this by learning the Torah all night, having festive meals and eating milky foods to commemorate the fact that once we had received the Torah, the consumption of milky foods became permissible.
Sukkot is a seven-day festival marking the 40 years the Jews spent in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land after escaping slavery in Egypt.
We remember the miraculous ways G-d looked after us in the desert by leaving the comforts of our homes and eating our meals in a hut in the garden.
The festival concludes with two additional festive days, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
We celebrate with family meals and by shaking the four Species which consist of a lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow) and etrog (citron).
Simchat Torah celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.
Simchat Torah celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. A day of Judgement, it commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of a 10-day introspection period where we ask G-d to give us another good year filled with blessing and happiness.
We blow the Shofar (a ram’s horn) to remind us that G-d is our King, and to repent for the wrongs we have done.
We eat traditional foods including an apple dipped in honey, pomegranates, and dates.
Yom Kippur is Judaism’s holiest day of the year. On this day – a day of repentance – we ask G-d for forgiveness for our sins and to secure our fate for the coming year. We strive to ascend above physicality by fasting, confession and intensive prayer.
Yom Kippur is Judaism’s holiest day of the year. On this day – a day of repentance – we ask G-d for forgiveness for our sins and to secure our fate for the coming year. We strive to ascend above physicality by fasting, confession and intensive prayer.
Chanukah is a yearly reminder of the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks and the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
We rejoice by lighting the Menorah for eight days, playing with the dreidel and eating fried foods.
Purim is the time when the Jewish people were saved from Haman who was planning to kill all the Jews in the Persian empire.
We rejoice by dressing up, drinking wine, having a festive meal, giving food baskets and by giving gifts to the poor.
Purim is the time when the Jewish people were saved from Haman who was planning to kill all the Jews in the Persian empire.
We rejoice by dressing up, drinking wine, having a festive meal, giving food baskets and by giving gifts to the poor.
The yearly Jewish calendar contains six fast days including Yom Kippur.
Most of them commemorate various landmark events that revolve around the destruction of the Holy Temples, including…
Israeli celebrations include:
Israeli celebrations include:
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