Jewish Holidays and Festivals
Hanukkah
“Festival of Lights”. 8 day celebration. Jews are called to be the light to all nations.
It celebrates the Jewish victory over the Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C.E. During this event, Jews recaptured the Temple and rededicated it to God. While rededicating the Temple, Jews found a menorah (candelabrum) that stayed lit for 8 days. This was surprising because there was only enough oil to keep it lit for 1 day.
Passover
Jews retell the Passover story and have a Seder meal. It commemorates the time in the Biblical period when God punished the Egyptians by killing their first-born children. God freed the Jews from bondage and spared them from death. God “passed over” the homes of the Jews.
Purim
“Feast of lots” It celebrates the Jewish victory over Haman (the Persian P.M.) in the 5th century. Haman had tried to massacre Jews. He had created a lottery to pick dates to kill Jews
Rosh Hashanah
Refers to the Jewish New Year celebration. It begins around September. Jews gather in the synagogue, where they declare God king again and pray for God’s protection and blessing.
Jews recall God’s creation of the heavens and the earth. A shofar is blown to initiate the beginning of the new year. Jews will usually visit the graves of deceased relatives and friends.
Shabbat (Sabbath)
Is celebrated every week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Spending time with family, refraining from work, attending synagogue services, praying, studying the Torah, and having a Sabbath meal are important. It recognizes that the Heavens and Earth and everything on Earth are a gift from God
There is a evening service. Dinner at home where man of the house recites Kiddush, a prayer over wine. Service at the synagogue on Saturday morning. Shabbat ends at nightfall when three stars are visible.
Sukkot
Means “booths”. It commemorates the 40 year period when the Jews wandered the desert and built booths to protect themselves
Jews do not work during the first couple of days. Time is devoted to praying, eating, singing, learning, and entering a sukkot.
Yom Kippur
The Day of atonement and repentance. It is also a solemn day of fasting and reconcilliation.