Holla'Days
Jewish HOLIDAYS:
There are several major Jewish holidays that are observed throughout the year, including:
Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah, which means "head of the year," is the Jewish New Year and is observed on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and repentance, and is marked by the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, as a call to repentance.
Yom Kippur: Yom Kippur, which means "Day of Atonement," is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It is observed on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei and is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance.
Sukkot: Sukkot, which means "booths," is a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest and the Jews' 40 years of wandering in the desert. It is observed for seven days, starting on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, and involves the construction of temporary shelters called sukkahs.
Chanukah: Chanukah, which means "dedication," is a holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed for eight days, starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, and involves the lighting of candles on a special candelabra called a menorah.
Purim: Purim is a holiday that commemorates the story of Esther, who saved the Jews of ancient Persia from extermination. It is observed on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar and involves the reading of the Book of Esther, the giving of gifts to the poor, and the celebration with friends and family.
Passover: Passover is a holiday that commemorates the Jews' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed for eight days, starting on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, and involves the abstention from eating leavened bread and the retelling of the story of the Exodus through the Seder, a special meal and ritual.
Overall, the major Jewish holidays include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, and Passover. These holidays are observed throughout the year and are marked by various rituals, traditions, and customs that are specific to each holiday.
Rosh Hashana: Jewish New Year
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What: Day of Judgement (very serious day) We eat apples dipped in honey so we have are judged by G-D sweetly. We blow the shofar (Rams horn) to echo the sound the soul makes as it cries out to G-D for forgiveness
Rosh Hashanah, which means "head of the year," is the Jewish New Year and is observed on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei. It is a time of prayer, reflection, and repentance, and is marked by the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, as a call to repentance.
One of the central themes of Rosh Hashanah is the idea of teshuvah, or repentance. During this holiday, Jews are encouraged to reflect on their actions over the past year and to ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoings. Rosh Hashanah is also a time to reaffirm one's commitment to living a life of righteousness and to making positive changes in the year ahead.
In addition to the traditional prayers and liturgies that are recited on Rosh Hashanah, the blowing of the shofar is a central part of the holiday's observance. The shofar, a ram's horn, is blown in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and is seen as a call to repentance. According to the Talmud, the shofar represents the "voice of the living God" and serves as a wake-up call for people to return to the path of righteousness.
Rosh Hashanah is also a time for the family to come together and celebrate the start of the new year. Many Jews observe the holiday by preparing special foods and meals, spending time with loved ones, and participating in community events and activities.
Overall, Rosh Hashanah is a time of prayer, reflection, and repentance, and is marked by the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, as a call to repentance. It is an opportunity for Jews to reflect on their actions over the past year, ask for forgiveness for any wrongdoings, and reaffirm their commitment to living a righteous life. Rosh Hashanah is also a time for families to come together and celebrate the start of the new year.
10 Days of repentance between RH & YK
Yom Kippur: Sealing of the Judgement from Rosh Hashana (also super serious)
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We are judged on Rosh Hashana, our judgment is sealed on YK. Go to shul, ask for forgiveness from everything we have done (we are not perfect, G-D created us not to be perfect) but we still must acknowledge our imperfect self and want to change. We are given this day of atonement as a gift, (it states, the day itself is an atonement, very special) think of it as a "wipe away all sins day" kind of like a get out of jail card in monopoly, but for your sins.
Yom Kippur, which means "Day of Atonement," is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It is observed on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei and is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance.
On Yom Kippur, Jews are commanded to fast and to abstain from all pleasures and physical comforts in order to focus on the spiritual aspects of the holiday. The fast is seen as a way to atone for one's sins and to draw closer to God.
In addition to fasting, Yom Kippur is also a day of intense prayer and repentance. The traditional Yom Kippur liturgy includes a series of prayers and confessions in which Jews ask for forgiveness for their sins and seek to repair their relationships with God and with other people.
One of the central rituals of Yom Kippur is the wearing of white clothing, which symbolizes purity and the hope for a fresh start. Many Jews also attend synagogue services on Yom Kippur, where they recite special prayers and participate in the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn, which serves as a call to repentance.
Overall, Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance and is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It is a time for Jews to atone for their sins, to repair their relationships with God and with other people, and to seek a fresh start. Yom Kippur is marked by the wearing of white clothing and the attendance of synagogue services, which include special prayers and the blowing of the shofar.
Sukkot : Harvest holiday
We are atoned, time to Partaaaay in the hut! This holiday celebrates the time of harvest. Yes like food. Amazingly food doesnt originate in restaurants, most f it comes from the ground, whcih means it requires rain to grow. G-D grants the rain, and the earth to produce food. We celebrate thekindness of G-D by constructing a hut, putting branches on top & spending 8 days, eating drinking and partying iniside. Very fun holiday, especially when it rains.
Sukkot, which means "booths," is a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest and the Jews' 40 years of wandering in the desert. It is observed for seven days, starting on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, and involves the construction of temporary shelters called sukkahs.
The sukkah is a temporary structure that is covered with branches or other natural materials and is meant to resemble the type of shelters that the Jews lived in during their wandering in the desert. According to the Torah, the Jews were commanded to dwell in sukkahs for seven days as a way of remembering their ancestors' experience in the desert.
During Sukkot, Jews are commanded to eat, sleep, and spend time in the sukkah, which is seen as a way of celebrating the holiday and of remembering the Jews' history. Many Jews also decorate their sukkahs with fruit and other decorations, and invite friends and family over to share meals and celebrate the holiday.
In addition to the construction and use of the sukkah, Sukkot is also marked by the performance of special rituals and the saying of special prayers. These include the waving of the Four Species, which consists of a lulav (a palm branch), an etrog (a citrus fruit), three myrtle branches, and two willow branches, and the recitation of the Hoshanah prayers.
Overall, Sukkot is a holiday that celebrates the fall harvest and the Jews' 40 years of wandering in the desert. It is observed for seven days and involves the construction and use of temporary shelters called sukkahs, the performance of special rituals, and the saying of special prayers. Sukkot is a time for Jews to celebrate the holiday, remember their history, and share meals and joy with friends and family.
Shemini Atzeret / Simchas Torah
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you thought you had fun on Sukkos? That was just a preperation for the last two days, called Shemini Atzeret & Simchas Torah. We are commanded to be joyous in celebrating the Torah, DANCE DRINK DANCE DRINK REPEAT X7.
Chanuka
Chanukah, which means "dedication," is a holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed for eight days, starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, and involves the lighting of candles on a special candelabra called a menorah.
According to the story, the Temple in Jerusalem was desecrated by the Syrian-Greeks, who forbid the Jews from practicing their religion. When the Jews regained control of the Temple, they found only a small amount of oil that had not been defiled, enough to last for only one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared.
To commemorate this miracle, Jews observe Chanukah by lighting the menorah, a special candelabra with eight branches and a ninth, central candle called the shamash. Each night of the holiday, one additional candle is lit until all eight candles are burning on the final night.
In addition to the lighting of the menorah, Chanukah is also marked by the exchange of gifts, the playing of traditional games such as dreidel, and the consumption of special foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
Overall, Chanukah is a holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed for eight days and involves the lighting of the menorah, the exchange of gifts, the playing of traditional games, and the consumption of special foods. Chanukah is a time for Jews to celebrate the holiday, remember the miracle of the oil, and share joy and traditions with loved ones.
Tenth of Tevet
Tu'B'Shvat
Purim
Purim is a holiday that commemorates the story of Esther, who saved the Jews of ancient Persia from extermination. It is observed on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar and involves the reading of the Book of Esther, the giving of gifts to the poor, and the celebration with friends and family.
According to the story, the Jews of ancient Persia were facing extermination at the hands of the wicked Prime Minister Haman. Esther, a Jewish woman who had become the queen of Persia, risked her life to plead with the king on behalf of her people. The king ultimately issued a decree that allowed the Jews to defend themselves, and they were ultimately saved.
To commemorate this story, Jews observe Purim by reading the Book of Esther, which tells the story of Esther and the Jews' salvation. This reading is typically done in the synagogue, and is accompanied by the sounding of noisemakers and the wearing of costumes.
In addition to the reading of the Book of Esther, Purim is also marked by the giving of gifts to the poor, called matanot l'evyonim, and the celebration with friends and family. Many Jews dress up in costumes, have parties, and exchange gifts and treats on Purim.
Overall, Purim is a holiday that commemorates the story of Esther and the salvation of the Jews of ancient Persia. It is observed on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar and involves the reading of the Book of Esther, the giving of gifts to the poor, and the celebration with friends and family. Purim is a time for Jews to remember the story of Esther, to give to the less fortunate, and to celebrate with loved ones.
Pesach
Passover is a holiday that commemorates the Jews' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed for eight days, starting on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, and involves the abstention from eating leavened bread and the retelling of the story of the Exodus through the Seder, a special meal and ritual.
According to the story, the Jews were slaves in ancient Egypt until God sent Moses to lead them to freedom. God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians, the final one being the death of the firstborn. To protect themselves from this plague, the Jews were commanded to put the blood of a lamb on their doorposts, and when the angel of death saw the blood, he would pass over the Jews' homes.
To commemorate this story, Jews observe Passover by abstaining from eating leavened bread, which is called chametz, and by participating in the Seder, a special meal that retells the story of the Exodus. The Seder involves the reading of the Haggadah, a special text that tells the story of the Exodus, the eating of symbolic foods such as matzah (unleavened bread) and bitter herbs, and the singing of traditional songs.
In addition to the Seder, Passover is also marked by the abstention from eating chametz, the cleaning of the home to remove all chametz, and the saying of special prayers.
Overall, Passover is a holiday that commemorates the Jews' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is observed for eight days and involves the abstention from eating leavened bread, the retelling of the story of the Exodus through the Seder, and the saying of special prayers. Passover is a time for Jews to remember their history, to celebrate their freedom, and to share the Seder with loved ones.
Shavuous
TishaBav