Pesach (Passover) is a Biblical festival that begins on 15 Nisan (in March or April). Pesach is a seven-day holiday that celebrates the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt and our freedom from oppression in modern days. The holiday is…
Chanukah, the festival of lights, is a Rabbinic celebration that begins on 25 Kislev. Chanukah celebrates the miracle of the oil in the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ defeat of the Greek army as well as the Jew’s freedom…
Sukkot, the Harvest Festival, occurs on 15 Tishri (in September or October). The word Sukkot means booths, and refers to the temporary dwellings (sukkah) that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. Sukkot is also a harvest festival,…
The Biblical holiday of Yom Kippurim (also known as Yom Kippur) – Day of Atonement – is the last day of the High Holy Days. The fast of Yom Kippur begins at sundown on the ninth of Tishri and continues…
Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of the Hebrew month Tishrei (although outside Israel it is celebrated for two days). The Torah calls Rosh Hashanah Yom HaZikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding…
Chag HaShavuot is the second of the three annual chagim (Pilgrimage Festivals) in the Hebrew Calendar. In English Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. The chag is known by various names. It is known as Chag…
This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year. (Exodus 12:2) The first mitzvah (command) given by the Eternal One to Moshe and Aharon was…
Purim (which means lots) is a post-Biblical celebration that occurs on 14 Adar (in February or March). Purim is one-day holiday in Rabbinic tradition and a two-day holiday in Karaite tradition. Purim celebrates the victory of Esther and Mordechai over…
Rosh Chodesh Av – the first day of the Hebrew month of Av – begins the most intense mourning period of The Three Weeks. This nine-day mourning period culminates in the fast of Tisha B’Av. Tisha B’Av is a Rabbinic…
Chag HaShavuot is the second of the three annual chagim (Pilgrimage Festivals) in the Hebrew Calendar. In English Shavuot is known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. The chag is known by various names. It is known as Chag…
