Jewish Holidays - All about Passover to Hanukkah

 Jews celebrate various festivals throughout the year. The different festivals of Jews have different meanings and different ways of celebrating. Here, in this blog post, we are going to discuss various holy celebration in Judaism:

  1. Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days and it falls in September. This celebration is a reminder of the covenant God made with Israel. During these two days, Jews have to turn away from sin. Also, they have to do good things. During this festival, 2,000 years old tradition is also followed in which the sound of the shofar is produced. Shofar is a trumpet made up of a ram’s horn. This sound guides the worshippers’ contemplation.

  1. Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement

During the starting of New Year, the religious Jews have 10 days to regret their sins. It will lead to the Yom Kippur- the holiest day for Jews. On Yom Kippur, Jews do fasting for the whole day and offer intense prayers to God. Some Jew people do Kapparot. Kapparot is a traditional atonement ritual. In this ritual, Jews have to donate chicken to poor people.  

  1. Sukkot: Festival of Shelters

This festival is celebrated to commemorate the Israelites’ Exodus from the slavery of the Egyptian monarch. After getting the freedom, Israelites spent 40 years wandering through the desert in search of the land where they can reside. During these 40 years, ancient Israelites use temporary dwellings for sheltering themselves. Sukkot kosher vacation is a week-long festival and during this festival, the sukkah is constructed. Sukkah symbolized those huts which were used by ancient Jews while they were wandering in the desert. In the sukkah, ancient Jews share their meals and sometimes sleep together.

  1. Simchat Torah: Rejoicing with God's teachings

After the Sukkat, the holiday of Shemini Atzeret is celebrated. During the holiday, Simchat Torah is a key component. This festival is celebrated to conclude the annual readings of the Torah. Torah is a Hebrew Bible. During this holiday, Torah scrolls are passed through prayer. Also, the worshippers dance and sing joyously.

  1. Hanukkah: Festival of Lights

During the Seleucid Empire, Jews were not allowed to freely practice their religion. Ancient Jews have faced this for two centuries until 164 BC when they had recaptured their homeland Jerusalem. The religious text written in Torah tells that ancient Jews were having that much oil remained that can light-up one night only. But, the sacred oil miraculously burned for eight days. This is the reason that Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. Every day one candle is lit-up during the Hanukkah festival.

  1. Tu BiShvat: New Year of the Trees

January indicates the end of the rainy season in Israel. Until this festival, the plants and trees in Israel are allowed to grow in peace. During TU BiShvat, Jews get together to eat the fruits that are grown in Israel such as grapes, nuts, olives, figs, pomegranates, dates, and cereals. This holiday is devoted to the protection of the environment.

  1. Purim: Jewish 'Carnival'

The holy text written in the Hebrew Bible tells that Vizier Haman wanted to kill the Jews in Persian Empire. But, Esther-king’s wife was a Jew and she helped other Jews to save their lives. During Purim, the story is read out in the Synagogue and when Haman is mention, worshippers make noise to blot out the mane of king vizier Haman. At the festival, Jews wear masks and special costumes.

  1. Passover: Feast of Unleavened Bread

Passover holidays commemorate the freedom of ancient Israelites from the slavery of monarch pharaoh. It is an eight-day long festival. The traditional Jews visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem to offer their prayers. When the ancient Israelites escaped from Egypt then they have only unleavened bread to the ear. Thus, during the Passover holidays, Jews are not allowed to eat leavened bread. Thus, they eat only unleavened bread known as Matzah. On the first night of Passover, Jewish family members get together to have a special meal known as Seder. Nowadays, people are celebrating Seder out of their houses by participating in Passover programs.

  1. Shavuot: Festival of Reaping

Shavuot festival is celebrated to commemorate to reveal Five Books of Torah by God to Moses and ancient Israelites. It is also known as the “Day of the First Fruits.” During this festival, the first grain and fruits are harvested. In an earlier time, Jews prepare two wheat loaves by using the new harvest’s flour. These two loaves are offered in the Jerusalem temple.

  1. Shabbat

Shabbat starts with Sundown every Friday and it lasts until Saturday night. During the times, the traditional Jews visit Synagogue and work is forbidden. Shabbat lasts from sundown every Friday until Saturday night. During Shabbat, no fires will lit, no bulbs will be turned on and stoves will not be used.  
Location: United States

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