Holidays
How to Greet Your Students on Jewish Holidays

"All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date specified. . . . Work is not permitted on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first and second days of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simkhat Torah, Shavu'ot, and the first, second, seventh and eighth days of Passover." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Jewish Holidays" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Shabbat - every Friday sundown until Saturday's first 3 stars
"Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. . . . Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. . . . Shabbat, like all Jewish days, begins at sunset. . . . Shabbat candles are lit and a blessing is recited no later than eighteen minutes before sunset. This ritual, performed by the woman of the house, officially marks the beginning of Shabbat. Two candles are lit, representing the two commandments: zachor (remember) and shamor (observe) . . . .Shabbat ends at nightfall, when three stars are visible, approximately 40 minutes after sunset. At the conclusion of Shabbat, the family performs a concluding ritual called Havdalah (separation, division). Blessings are recited over wine, spices and candles. Then a blessing is recited regarding the division between the sacred and the secular, between Shabbat and the working days." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Shabbat" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Rosh Hashanah - occurring in September
"In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, 'head of the year' or 'first of the year.'  Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. . . . No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. . . . Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. . . . Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ('casting off'). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. . . . The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ('for a good year')." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Rosh Hashanah" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Yom Kippur - occurring in September/October
"Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year.  Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. . . . The name 'Yom Kippur' means 'Day of Atonement' . . . . It is a day set aside to 'afflict the soul,' to atone for the sins of the past year. . . . It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. . . . As always, any of these restrictions can be lifted where a threat to life or health is involved. In fact, children under the age of nine and women in childbirth (from the time labor begins until three days after birth) are not permitted to fast, even if they want to." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Yom Kippur" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Sukkot - occurring in September/October
"The word 'Sukkot' means 'booths,' and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this holiday. . . . The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is 'Sue COAT,' but is often pronounced as in Yiddish, to rhyme with 'BOOK us.' . . . The holiday commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is also a harvest festival . . . . No work is permitted on the first and second days of the holiday. . . . A sukkah must have at least three walls covered with a material that will not blow away in the wind. . . . It is common practice, and highly commendable, to decorate the sukkah.  In the northeastern United States, Jews commonly hang dried squash and corn in the sukkah to decorate it, because these vegetables are readily available at that time for the American holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Sukkot" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah - occurring in late September/October
"[T]he day after the seventh day of Sukkot, is the holiday Shemini Atzeret. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret is also the holiday of Simkhat Torah. Outside of Israel, where extra days of holidays are held, only the second day of Shemini Atzeret is Simkhat Torah. . . . Shemini Atzeret literally means 'the assembly of the eighth (day).'   Rabbinic literature explains the holiday this way: G-d is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, He has enjoyed himself so much that He asks us to stay another day.

"The annual cycle of weekly Torah readings is completed at this time. We read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding us that the Torah is a circle, and never ends. This completion of the readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torahs and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing. As many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions. This aspect of the holiday is known as Simkhat Torah, which means 'Rejoicing in the Torah' . . . . Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah are holidays on which work is not permitted." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Shemini Atzeret and Simkhat Torah" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Chanukkah - occurring in November/December
"Chanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival. . . . Chanukkah is not a very important religious holiday. The holiday's religious significance is far less than that of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavu'ot. . . . The only religious observance related to the holiday is the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a candelabrum called a menorah (or sometimes called a chanukkiah) that holds nine candles: one for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. . . . It is traditional to eat fried foods on Chanukkah because of the significance of oil to the holiday. Among Ashkenazic Jews, this usually includes latkes [potato pancakes] . . . . Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been added in places where Jews have a lot of contact with Christians, as a way of dealing with our children's jealousy of their Christian friends. It is extremely unusual for Jews to give Chanukkah gifts to anyone other than their own young children. The only traditional gift of the holiday is 'gelt,' small amounts of money.

"Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. A dreidel is marked with four Hebrew letters: Nun, Gimmel, Heh and Shin. This supposedly stands for the Hebrew phrase "nes gadol hayah sham", a great miracle happened there. Actually, it stands for the Yiddish words nit (nothing), gantz (all), halb (half) and shtell (put), which are the rules of the game!" -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Chanukkah" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Purim - occurring in February/March
"Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar.  It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. . . . The word "Purim" means "lots" and refers to the lottery that Haman [the villian] used to choose the date for the massacre. . . . The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. The book of Esther is commonly known as the Megillah, which means scroll. . . . We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. . . . In addition, we are commanded to send out gifts of food or drink, and to make gifts to charity. . . . Among Ashkenazic Jews, a common treat at this time of year is hamentaschen (lit. Haman's pockets). These triangular fruit-filled cookies are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat. . . . It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, and to hold beauty contests."  -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Purim" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

In many congregations, children and adults dress up like members of the story to celebrate. 

Passover: Peseach - occurring in March/April
"[Passover] is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot).  Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. . . . The name "Pesach" (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew root Peh-Samech-Chet meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.  In English, the holiday is known as Passover. "Pesach" is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday. . . . Probably the most significant observance related to Pesach involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish ch)  from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls.

Chametz includes anything made from the five major grains (wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt) that has not been completely cooked within 18 minutes after coming into contact with water. . . . We may not eat chametz during Pesach; we may not even own it or derive benefit from it. . . . The grain product we eat during Pesach is called matzah. Matzah is unleavened bread, made simply from flour and water and cooked very quickly. This is the bread that the Jews made for their flight from Egypt. . . . On the first night of Pesach (first two nights for traditional Jews outside Israel), we have a special family meal filled with ritual to remind us of the significance of the holiday. This meal is called a seder, from a Hebrew root word meaning 'order,' because there is a specific set of information that must be discussed in a specific order. . . . Pesach lasts for seven days (eight days outside of Israel). The first and last days of the holiday (first two and last two outside of Israel) are days on which no work is permitted." -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Peseach: Passover" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Shavu'ot - occurring in May/June
"Shavu'ot, the Festival of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah). . . . Shavu'ot is also sometimes known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day [after Passover]. The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu'ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. . . . Work is not permitted during Shavu'ot.  It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavu'ot and study Torah, then pray as early as possible in the morning. " -- as excerpted from "Judaism 101: Shavu'ot" by Tracey Rich, located on the home page of Judaism 101

Reform congregations often have a Confirmation service for sixteen year-old congregants (sophomore year of high school) on Shavu'ot, marking their adult acceptance of the Torah and its teachings.

    Thaler, E. M. (Ed.). (2000, July 19). Light Our Candles:  
Judaism - Holidays [WWW document]. Light Our Candles. 
Leavenworth, KS: Saint Mary College. Retrieved Month #, 
2000 from the World Wide Web: 
http://lightourcandles.tripod.com/judaismholiday.html