Festivals, in any religious tradition perform, certain functions including the following:
a. Creates a sense of community.
b. Inject joy in the hearts of the adherents.
c. Becomes a subtle tool to communicate themes and to educate the masses.
d. Becomes a tool to proclaim the message to the outsiders.
For each festival the following information are provided:
1. Name of the festival!
2. Time to celebrate the festival!
3. Commemorates – What?
4. Day of Rest – Yes/No
5. Celebration – How?
6. Decreed by whom?
I. Passover (Pesach)
7- 8 days in March/April
The Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt
First and last days
No food containing leaven are eaten – Matzoh eaten
Passover supper – seder – on the 1st or 2nd evening with story telling
Torah
II. Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Ha’Shoah)
1 day in April
Murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime
No
Jews gather to remember and mourn & strengthen themselves not to permit such; readings from Holocaust literature with specially composed prayers, songs from Holocaust period are said and sung
Day of memorial decreed by Israeli Parliament
III. Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’Atzmaut)
1 day in April/May
The creation of the State of Israel
No, but a public holiday in Israel
Public parades and parties in Israel parties elsewhere in Jewish community and singing of national anthem
Decreed by Israeli Parliament
IV. Festival of Weeks (Shavuot)
1-2 in June
The giving of the Torah to Moses in Mount Sinai
Yes
Some Jews study the whole night. Eating dairy food, decorating homes and the synagogue. Reading from the Torah including the 10 commandments.
Prescribed by the Torah.
V. Ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av)
1 day in August
The destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE and the Second Temple and other Jewish tragedies!
No
Reading of the Book of Lamentation. Fasting completely for a day, including not wearing leather.
Decreed by Jewish Leaders.
VI. New Year (Rosh Hasanah)
1-2 days in September.
Newness. A day of blowing the shofar (ram’s horn).
Yes.
Blowing the shofar for spiritual awakening. Synagogue clothes in white. Eating apples and honey, honey cakes and new fruits. Sending new year cards. Asking forgiveness for past year wrongdoings.
Prescribed by Torah.
a. Creates a sense of community.
b. Inject joy in the hearts of the adherents.
c. Becomes a subtle tool to communicate themes and to educate the masses.
d. Becomes a tool to proclaim the message to the outsiders.
For each festival the following information are provided:
1. Name of the festival!
2. Time to celebrate the festival!
3. Commemorates – What?
4. Day of Rest – Yes/No
5. Celebration – How?
6. Decreed by whom?
I. Passover (Pesach)
7- 8 days in March/April
The Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt
First and last days
No food containing leaven are eaten – Matzoh eaten
Passover supper – seder – on the 1st or 2nd evening with story telling
Torah
II. Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Ha’Shoah)
1 day in April
Murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazi regime
No
Jews gather to remember and mourn & strengthen themselves not to permit such; readings from Holocaust literature with specially composed prayers, songs from Holocaust period are said and sung
Day of memorial decreed by Israeli Parliament
III. Israel Independence Day (Yom Ha’Atzmaut)
1 day in April/May
The creation of the State of Israel
No, but a public holiday in Israel
Public parades and parties in Israel parties elsewhere in Jewish community and singing of national anthem
Decreed by Israeli Parliament
IV. Festival of Weeks (Shavuot)
1-2 in June
The giving of the Torah to Moses in Mount Sinai
Yes
Some Jews study the whole night. Eating dairy food, decorating homes and the synagogue. Reading from the Torah including the 10 commandments.
Prescribed by the Torah.
V. Ninth of Av (Tisha B’Av)
1 day in August
The destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE and the Second Temple and other Jewish tragedies!
No
Reading of the Book of Lamentation. Fasting completely for a day, including not wearing leather.
Decreed by Jewish Leaders.
VI. New Year (Rosh Hasanah)
1-2 days in September.
Newness. A day of blowing the shofar (ram’s horn).
Yes.
Blowing the shofar for spiritual awakening. Synagogue clothes in white. Eating apples and honey, honey cakes and new fruits. Sending new year cards. Asking forgiveness for past year wrongdoings.
Prescribed by Torah.
VII. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
1 day in September/October.
Repentence. Before the destruction of the Temple the High Priest made atonement for people on this day!
Yes.
Fasting. Lighting candles at home. Congregating in the synagogue. Asking for forgiveness from God. Wearing white clothes. Blowing shofar at the end of the fast.
Torah.
VIII. Festival of Booths (Sukkot)
7-8 days in September/October.
Living in tents after escaping Egyptian slavery.
First day.
Families build sukkot and take their meals in them for a week.
Torah.
IX. Festival of Rededication (Hanukkah)
8 days in December.
Restoration of the Temple Worship by Maccabees after it had been spoiled by enemy idol-worshippers.
No.
Lighting candles each night for eight nights – one on first night, two on second night, … Eating foods cooked in oil. Playing special games.
Decreed by Jewish leaders.
X. Festival of Lots (Purim)
1 day in February/March.
Esther, Jewish Queen of Persia, risking her life to save her people from the king’s prime minister, Haman.
No.
Reading ogf the Book of Esther and trying to make noise to drown the name of Haman. Wearing costumens. Eating hamantashen – sweet triangular pastries filled with fruit.
Decreed by Jewish leaders.
Sources:
Further information can be obtained from many other sources including the following websites:
http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/holidays.htm
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidays.html
http://www3.telus.net/public/kstam/en/temple/details/calendar.htm
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Facts+About+Israel/People/Jewish+Festivals+in+Israel.htm
Question to Explore:
List six important festivals of the Jewish community and describe in detail three of them. Your answer should provide evidence that you have consulted sources beyond your lecture notes.
