Best Jewish Holidays
Almost every Jewish household kindles a Hanukkah menorah on Hanukkah and eats matzoth on Passover. Jewish holidays are observed by millions of Jewish people all around the world. The Jewish ancient heritage has been preserved for thousands of years, since the times of the Israelites. Even though the Jewish nation has been scattered around the world for so many generations, the Jewish culture has been miraculously preserved.
Religious rituals and symbols have played an important role in maintaining the bond between Jews all around the world. During the Jewish holidays we take the time to remember our ancestors and the miracles that God has performed to the Israelites. Here I will give your a brief guide to the most celebrated Jewish holidays. As you might know, each holiday has its significance and rituals.
High Holidays: Tishrei- month of several Jewish holidays known as the high holidays
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the New Year and is the first of Jewish holidays to be celebrated according to the Hebrew calendar. This period of month Tishrei (falls on September/October) , there are several significant Jewish holidays that follow each other almost immediately. On the eve of the holiday, the Jewish family gathers around the table for a festive meal that includes different kinds of ceremonial foods. We eat apples sweetened with honey and bless each other, “may you be replenished for another good and sweet year.” We also dip a slice of Challah bread in honey, another way of setting the intention for a pleasant and prosperous year. Honey symbolizes the Promised Land of Israel which the bible refers to as “the land of milk and honey”.
After Rosh Hashanah, comes the Atonement Day, also known as Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is thought by many to the holiest of Jewish holidays. Yom Kippur ends the ten days the ten Days of Awe- the period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The ten days of Awe are devoted to the examination and repentance of our sins.On this day, Jewish people reflect on their past mistakes in the context of their relationship with God. Another important aspect of this self-examination is in the context of relationship with other people – it is time to ask forgiveness and be forgiven. One of the most important commandments during this period is hearing the sound of the Shofar blown in the synagogue.
Sukkot occurs in the 15th of month Tishrei. In this holiday every Jewish family builds a Sukkah, a special hut that is reminiscent to the huts in which the Israeli dwelled in their forty years of journey to the land of Israel.
Immediately after the festival of Sukkot, Simchat Torah comes in – now it is time to celebrate the Torah. Simchat Torah marks the ending of Torah reading of that year. During this holiday, Torah is read all night through at the synagogues. In a very festive ceremony, Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark, and people joyfully circle around them.
Hanukkah
Many jewish people take pleasure in celebrating festival of lights- Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah or Hanukah). Hanukhah might be the most pleasant of all Jewish holidays, especially for children who enjoy Hanukka’s fun games, such as spinning the dreidels. Hanukkah commemorates the victories of the Maccabees, our ancient heroes who miraculously defeated ruler Antiochus and the great Greek army. Hanukkah is observed by the kindling of by the kindling of the lights on the special Hanukkah menorah for eight successive days.
Purim
Next comes Purim, which is also a very pleasant Jewish holiday. According to Jewish tradition, we read the book of Esther. The book tells how Queen Ester in her great wisdom and wit saved the Jewish people from the evil hands of Haman a few thousands of years ago. Purim in Israel is a wonderful festival. Israeli kids and youth are dressing up in all kinds of colorful customs: angels, super heroes the classic Queen Ester and Evil Haman.
Passover is probably the most celebrated of all Jewish holidays. On the 15th of the month of Nisan, according to the Hebrew calendar, we celebrate Passover, just as springs comes in. In this lovely time of the year, we celebrate the liberation of the Jewish people from enslavement by the Egyptians thousand of years ago (as told in the book of Exodus). During the eight says of the Passover holiday, we eat a special kind of flat bread called matzah (Matzos).Jews keep special dietary, and are not allowed to eat bread or any kind of food made of flour.
Shavuot
Held seven weeks after Passover, this holiday celebrates the harvest season of the land of Israel – the land of ever-flowing milk and honey. Although considered very sacred in the Jewish tradition, this holiday is not so well-known.But if you pay a visit to Israel during this holiday, you will notice many beautiful customs practiced all around. Here are some of them. At Shavuot we celebrate the blessing of the land by having holiday meals that include a wide variety of dairy products.
Contemporary Judaica artists have made a great contribution to the wide selection of unique religious objects for Jewish holidays. These pieces, such as Hanukkah menorah are very popular and appropriate gifts given on Jewish holidays or on special occasions. Wit oh keeping the principle of Hindu mitzvah, these items add joy and festivity during Jewish holidays.
