Download Jewish Holidays

• Shabbat= Hebrew for Sabbath
• Origins: God rested on the 7th day
of creation
– 7 branch menorah
• Begins at sunset on Friday and
lasts until sunset on Saturday
• Jews are required to refrain from
many activities: driving, answering
the phone, turning on an electric
light etc.
• A day of worship and celebration
• A time to study Torah and provide services
• Special foods are prepared before the onset of the
Sabbath
• The traditional purpose of the Sabbath was a
compassionate one: it was to allow everyone, even
slaves and animals, regular rest.
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Jewish New Year
Is observed for two days
A religious event involving both festivities and serious contemplation
Reflection on the deeds of the past year and on the need for
redemption
• The shofar, ram’s horn, is blown
– It produces a solemn tone of warning to remind people that they
stand before God
• An important symbol of Judaism
• A time to pay off debts
• Day of atonement= community ritual
– To atone means to make up for one’s faults
– This day has traditionally been kept by prayer and
strict fasting, with no food or drink during the entire
day
• a day deeply personal and solemn
• It emphasizes repentance through confession of sin
• Confessions are said as a group= Unity
• The Shofar is also blown during this day
• Reminder of the harvest
• Festival of Booths (shelters)
– Succot means booth
• In early days it was common for
families to sleep outdoors in the
fields during the autumn harvest
season– which enabled them to begin
work in the fields early, to stay
late, and to protect what they
have harvested
• Eating or sleeping in the shelters
came to symbolize the period of
wandering in the desert, before the
Israelites entered the land of Canaan
• A sukkah (Hebrew for shelter) is a
shelter made of light wood
– it is set up in or near the home
– It is commonly decorated with
branches and fruits
• Recalls the story of Ester
– Ester becomes a queen
– She finds out that Haman is turning the
king against the Jews
• Haman wants the king to kill the Jews
– Ester risks her life when she goes to the
king’s court without permission
– She saves the Jewish people from the
destruction
• Aka Feast of Lots
– Purim means lots
• As in lottery
• Customary to have
carnivals and masquerade
parties
• Aka Passover
• Commemorates the Escape from Egypt
• The blood of the lamb killed for the Passover meal was placed
over the doors of the Hebrews keeping the angel of death from
entering their homes while the power of God “passed over”
Egypt
• They have the Seder meal as part of the celebration for
Passover
• Jewish Pentecost
• Aka feast of weeks
• Moses receives the 10
Commandments
• Birthday of the Jewish
religion
Shavuot = Pentecost