1. Judaism: Festivals and Holy Days

2. High Holy Days Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah Days of Repentance Days of Repentance Yom Kippur Yom Kippur

3. Rosh Hashanah Time of Year: September Reason for Holy Day: The head of the Year (New Year) The head of the Year (New Year) Celebrates both remembrance and the birthday of the world Celebrates both remembrance and the birthday of the worldCustoms: Traditional Jews will wear white as a symbol of cleansing Traditional Jews will wear white as a symbol of cleansing Begins 10 Days of repentance which will end with Yom Kippur Begins 10 Days of repentance which will end with Yom Kippur The shofar (rams horn) is blown The shofar (rams horn) is blown Begins at sunset with a candle lighting at sunset and a blessing Begins at sunset with a candle lighting at sunset and a blessing Food Eaten: Bread or fruit in honey as a wish for a sweet year Bread or fruit in honey as a wish for a sweet year Fish Fish

4. Days of Repentance Time of Year: 10 Days following Rosh Hashanah in September Reason for Holy Day: God judges humanity during this time God judges humanity during this time Ask for forgiveness for sins Ask for forgiveness for sinsCustoms: Orthodox Jews observe ritual kaparot/expiation using live chickens Orthodox Jews observe ritual kaparot/expiation using live chickens Light candles in memory of departed family members Light candles in memory of departed family members Will not wear leather shoes as respect for “not wearing the skin of any of the creator’s creatures.” Will not wear leather shoes as respect for “not wearing the skin of any of the creator’s creatures.” Food Eaten: Day before Yom Kippur Jews will eat a big meal in preparation for a fast the next day Day before Yom Kippur Jews will eat a big meal in preparation for a fast the next day

5. Yom Kippur Time of Year: 10 Days after Rosh Hashanah in September Reason for Holy Day: Most holy day of the year = White Sabbath = Day of Atonement Most holy day of the year = White Sabbath = Day of Atonement Males over the age of 13 and females over the age of 12 will fast for: Males over the age of 13 and females over the age of 12 will fast for: Penance for wrong doing Penance for wrong doing Display of self discipline Display of self disciplineCustoms: Focus on spiritual not material things Focus on spiritual not material things Will not have sexual relations, wash body (other than eyes and fingers) or wear any lotions or cosmetics Will not have sexual relations, wash body (other than eyes and fingers) or wear any lotions or cosmetics

6. Pilgrim Festivals Passover Passover Shavuot Shavuot Sukkot Sukkot

7. Pesakh/Passover Time of Year: March/April Reason for Festival: Reminder of Jewish history of slavery/freedom exile/home Reminder of Jewish history of slavery/freedom exile/homeCustoms: After 10 plagues, Jews had little time to flee Egypt (not time to let the bread rise) After 10 plagues, Jews had little time to flee Egypt (not time to let the bread rise) All grains and breads are cleaned from the house – house is cleaned top to bottom All grains and breads are cleaned from the house – house is cleaned top to bottom Later, bread will be hidden throughout the house and family must go on a silent search to find it – collected and burned Later, bread will be hidden throughout the house and family must go on a silent search to find it – collected and burned Food Eaten: Next day, will eat unleavened bread – Matzah – to become humble Next day, will eat unleavened bread – Matzah – to become humble Followed by Seder Feast Followed by Seder Feast

9. Shavuot/Pentecost 50 days later after Passover Time of Year: May/June Reason for Festival: Counting of the Omer – an offering brought to the priests in Jerusalem Counting of the Omer – an offering brought to the priests in JerusalemCustoms: A seven week period of mourning – no weddings or celebrations A seven week period of mourning – no weddings or celebrations Considered a bridge between celebrating freedom from slavery and the establishment of Jewish Law when Moses brought the Israelites to Sinai and received the Torah. Considered a bridge between celebrating freedom from slavery and the establishment of Jewish Law when Moses brought the Israelites to Sinai and received the Torah. Celebrate first harvest but also study of the Torah Celebrate first harvest but also study of the Torah

10. Sukkot/Booths Time of Year: September 5 days after Yom Kippur Reason for Festival: make a Harvest offering (tied to Exodus and agricultural cycle) make a Harvest offering (tied to Exodus and agricultural cycle)Customs: Will build a Sukkah – a small building of woven materials that has a trellis so when inside you can see the stars represents the 40 years after Exodus from Egypt when Jews wandered homeless and the 2 millennia of the Diaspora (temporary house). Try to eat and sleep in the structure Will build a Sukkah – a small building of woven materials that has a trellis so when inside you can see the stars represents the 40 years after Exodus from Egypt when Jews wandered homeless and the 2 millennia of the Diaspora (temporary house). Try to eat and sleep in the structure

11. Other Important Festivals Hanukkah Hanukkah Purim Purim

12. Hanukkah Time of Year: November/December Reason for Celebration: Celebration of the Maccabees (The Hammers), who engaged in civil war against Hellenized Syrians between 165-163 B.C.E. and liberated the Jews Reason for Celebration: Celebration of the Maccabees (The Hammers), who engaged in civil war against Hellenized Syrians between 165-163 B.C.E. and liberated the Jews Eventually drove Syrians out of Israel and cleansed the Temple Eventually drove Syrians out of Israel and cleansed the TempleCustoms: Lighting of the Hanukiyah (Menorah) Lighting of the Hanukiyah (Menorah) Food Eaten: Latkes – potato and onion fried in oil (in honour of the sacred oil lamps) Latkes – potato and onion fried in oil (in honour of the sacred oil lamps)

13. Purim Time of Year: February March Reason for Celebration: Spring festival Spring festival At the heart of Purim is the story of Esther, At the heart of Purim is the story of Esther, Purim means “lots” – casting of lots to pick a day for massacre by Haman Purim means “lots” – casting of lots to pick a day for massacre by HamanCustom: People dress up in costumes and go to synagogue, perform plays People dress up in costumes and go to synagogue, perform plays Food Eaten: Triangular pastries Triangular pastries