1. Jewish Religious Holidays
Ronen Wies, Gordon College of Education, Haifa Israel

3. The Jews have been in slavery in Egypt for
The Jews have been in slavery in Egypt for . decades and they suffered a lot because of hard work and humiliations. The Jews believe that God sent Moses to Pharaoh, the Egyptian king with the message : ‘ Let my people go ‘.
Pharaoh refused to obey God’s command. God then sent upon Egypt ten plagues.

4. In 1313 BC, God visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborns. While doing so, God spared the Children of Israel, “passing over” their homes—hence the name of the holiday.

5. After this event, Pharaoh’s resistance was broken, and he sent the former slaves out of the land. The Israelites left in such a hurry, in fact, that the bread they baked as provisions for the way did not have time to rise. On that day they began the trek to Mount Sinai and their birth as God’s chosen people.

6. The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring
The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery. Each year at this time the Jews have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.

8. Shavuot, known as the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, is reflected in the Bible.
The Children of Israel were in the desert, close to Mount Sinai. Moses ascended the mountain to meet God, who gave him the Ten Commandments, which were written on two tablets to be delivered to the Children of Israel.
These 10 commandments are the basis of all the Monotheistic religions.

9. The name Shavuot means in Hebrew "Weeks“ and it symbolizes the completion of the seven-week journey.
Shavuot also is a harvest holiday. In the time of the Temple, the ancient Israelites brought their first fruits to the Temple to offer to God at Shavuot.

10. Shavuot is known by several names:  Chag Hashavuot (the Festival of Weeks), Chag Habikkurim (the Feastival of the First Fruits), Chag Hakatzir (the Festival of Reaping) and Chag Matan Torah (the holiday of receiving the Bible).

11. Ronen Wies, Gordon College of Education, Haifa Israel