This is a busy time of the year and it is filled with a seemingly endless list of holidays and traditions. Teaching while navigating the holidays is a tricky thing! If we acknowledge Christmas, how do we also honor Eid? For example, the Muslim community does not celebrate Christmas in December but does have a similar holiday, Eid, that they celebrate in May at the end of Ramadan.
Tisha B’AvĪn important fast day commemorating the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and 70 CE.As you likely know - most holidays are not universally celebrated and as we enter a time of the year that is heavy on holidays and the commercial celebrations of those holidays, it is important to consider the exclusion that comes with it. The celebration of the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people, also known as the Festival of First Fruits. The holiday that marks the 33rd day of the 49-day “Omer” period between Passover and Shavuot. This holiday celebrates the independence of the Modern State of Israel. Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day)Ī day commemorating the soldiers who have fallen fighting for Israel’s independence and defending its security. The day Jews all over the world mourn the loss of six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust. PassoverĪ festival of freedom that marks the Hebrew exodus from Egypt long ago. PurimĪ day celebrating the saving of the Jews from a diabolical plot of destruction, as recounted in the Book of Esther. The Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” celebrated with observances that connect us to our environment and the natural world. HanukkahĪ festival celebrating liberation from oppression, freedom of worship, and finding light in the darkest of times. The day marking the end and the beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle. Literally the “8th day of assembly,” this holiday marks the end of Sukkot with an annual prayer for rain. SukkotĪ celebration of the fall harvest, this holiday also commemorates the time when the Hebrews dwelt in the Sinai wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. A day devoted to self–examination, and the chance to begin the New Year with a clean slate. The Jewish Day of Atonement-the most solemn day of the Jewish year. The Jewish New Year-a holiday observed with festive meals and a day spent in prayer or quiet meditation. The day of rest and weekly observance of God’s completion of creation. Still have questions? Contact our Jewish Life department. We also invite you to join us for our many celebrations throughout the year! We welcome you to learn more about significant holidays and observations of the Jewish calendar.
We also honor the moments, experiences, and values we hold in fresh, but powerful ways. We remember, we re-enact, and we retain the light for generations to come. We gather as family and community to give thanks, offer respect, and stay connected to the ancient and modern traditions that shape Jewish life and identity. Koret Taube Initiative on Jewish Peoplehood.