Holy Days/Festivals/Feasts/Celebration
Shabbat
Jews have very long Shabbat, or Sabbath, as a time to rest and a time of pleasure. It starts at the sunset on Friday, and ends at the sunset on Saturday, a full 24 hours. During that 4 hours,Jews take time to pray and study. Basically, it's a day to avoid work and everyday chores.
Jews have very long Shabbat, or Sabbath, as a time to rest and a time of pleasure. It starts at the sunset on Friday, and ends at the sunset on Saturday, a full 24 hours. During that 4 hours,Jews take time to pray and study. Basically, it's a day to avoid work and everyday chores.
Shavout
The Shavout comes when the wheat harvest happens in Ancient Israel. The Shavout marks the ending of Omer and the start of Summer. It's also the holiday that celebrates giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Shavout is the last of the three Pilgrimage Festivals. It's occasionally called Hag HaBikkurim. "The Festival of the First Fruits," because farmers will bring the first fruits of harvest the the Temple.
The Shavout comes when the wheat harvest happens in Ancient Israel. The Shavout marks the ending of Omer and the start of Summer. It's also the holiday that celebrates giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Shavout is the last of the three Pilgrimage Festivals. It's occasionally called Hag HaBikkurim. "The Festival of the First Fruits," because farmers will bring the first fruits of harvest the the Temple.
Pesach-Passover
The Pesach, or Passover, is the major festival in Spring. The Passover celebrates the Exodus in Egypt when Jews were led out from slavery and into freedom. For eight days, the Jews would eat no normal bread except the flat, unleavened, cracker-like bread which is called the matzah. The Bible and Torah says how the Jews made their preparations to escape from Egypt. The Jews had no time to prepare their bread. Instead they placed the dough on their backs.
The Pesach, or Passover, is the major festival in Spring. The Passover celebrates the Exodus in Egypt when Jews were led out from slavery and into freedom. For eight days, the Jews would eat no normal bread except the flat, unleavened, cracker-like bread which is called the matzah. The Bible and Torah says how the Jews made their preparations to escape from Egypt. The Jews had no time to prepare their bread. Instead they placed the dough on their backs.
Hanukkah
When Winter comes, the holiday Hanukkah comes with it. Hanukkah honors the victory of the Maccabees against the Syrian Army of Antiochus Epiphanes. Hannukkah is an eight-day celebration of religious freedom. There is a Jewish legend the tells that the Maccabees cleansed the Temple when they drove away the Syrian Greeks from Jerusalem, but when it was time to light the seven-branched golden candelabrum, called a Menorah, there was only tiny jar of pure olive oil. The jar of oil should have only burned for one night, but it burned for eight nights, giving the Jews to make new oil. As the legend states, the festival of Hanukkah is celebrated for eights nights because of this miracle.
When Winter comes, the holiday Hanukkah comes with it. Hanukkah honors the victory of the Maccabees against the Syrian Army of Antiochus Epiphanes. Hannukkah is an eight-day celebration of religious freedom. There is a Jewish legend the tells that the Maccabees cleansed the Temple when they drove away the Syrian Greeks from Jerusalem, but when it was time to light the seven-branched golden candelabrum, called a Menorah, there was only tiny jar of pure olive oil. The jar of oil should have only burned for one night, but it burned for eight nights, giving the Jews to make new oil. As the legend states, the festival of Hanukkah is celebrated for eights nights because of this miracle.
Sukkot
The week long Festival of Booths, called Sukkkot, comes fives days after Yom Kippur. The Sukkot tradition states that the Jews must each build a small open roof booth for when the eat and sleep inside. The roof of the sukkah (booth) is coated with green branches that was taken from shrubs and trees. The sukkah is a reminder of the way the Israelites lives when they went into leadership with Moses as their leader.
The week long Festival of Booths, called Sukkkot, comes fives days after Yom Kippur. The Sukkot tradition states that the Jews must each build a small open roof booth for when the eat and sleep inside. The roof of the sukkah (booth) is coated with green branches that was taken from shrubs and trees. The sukkah is a reminder of the way the Israelites lives when they went into leadership with Moses as their leader.