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Judaism |
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Jewish Calendar Heritage Hebrew Dictionary Cooking Kashrut / Kosher Judaism for children
Scroll down for Festival and Holiday information
Iyar 3, 5768
(May 8, 2008)
Israel Independence Day
Yom
Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) - This date, the fifth day of
Iyar, marks the day on which the State of Israel officially came into
existence, with the end of the British Mandate coming on May 14, 1948
- Iyar 5 5708.
Iyar 18, 5768
(May 23, 2008)
Lag B'Omer
| Lag B'Omer | |||||
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Thirty three days after the first day of Passover, Jewish people celebrate the festival of Lag B'Omer, the 33rd. day of the Omer. The 49 - day period between the festivals of Passover and Shavout is one of sadness and mourning and it is customary not to have weddings or listen to music during this time. Lag B'Omer however is the exception and for this reason it is customary for families to have picnics, go on outings and play games. |
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Sivan 6 - 7, 5768
(June 9 - 10, 2008)
Shavuot
| Shavuot Pentecost |
Why do we celebrate Shavuot? Seven weeks after Passover, we are ready to celebrate the holiday of Shavuot. Many years ago, in the Springtime of the year, G_d gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Children of Israel waited at the foot of the mountain for Moses to come down with this precious gift. We celebrate Shavuot in the spring of each year, we remember this special event in Jewish history. |
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This is the two day festival which celebrates the acceptance by the Jewish people of G-d's law, brought down by Moses from Mount Sinai.
The Torah (the five books of Moses) is the basis of the Jewish way of life and contains 613 commandments. The best known are the Ten Commandments. These books are also sacred to the other monotheistic religions of the world.
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To Jews the Torah is of divine origin - a source of moral, spiritual and legal instruction.
Over the centuries our Rabbis have delved into the text, searching for deeper meanings of the words and interpretations of the Law. Their discussions are written down in a collection of books called the Talmud and their legal decisions are the foundation of the case law on which modern interpretations of the Law depend |
In Israel this season marks the beginning of the harvest. In Biblical times people would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem on Shavuot to offer their first fruits in thanksgiving. So, today, the Synagogue is decorated with flowers and plants. The two days are holy days, so when they fall during the week everyday work ceases and services are held in the synagogue. At home, traditional foods eaten are dairy products, of which cheese cake is the most famous. |
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Cheese Cake: 1 pkt. digestive biscuit crumbs or Dutch rusk crumbs 11/2 oz melted margarine |
11/2 lbs cooking cream cheese (kez) 11/2 lb caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla 4 eggs |
2 cartons sour cream 1 tsp vanilla 1 tbs sugar |
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Method:
For the base, mix together
and press into base of paper-lined 8" square or round tin.
For the filling, mix
together. Pour over base. Bake in oven 325F (Gas mark 4) for
35 minutes or till firm in centre. Allow to cool. For
the topping, mix together. Pour over cake. Put in oven
preheated to 425F (Gas mark 7) for 5 minutes only. Best eaten
after a few hours in the fridge. |
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Tamuz 17, 5768
(July 20, 2008)
Fast of 17th of Tamuz and 9th of Av
The
fast days of 17 Tammuz and 9 Av, and the time between them, commemorate the
tragic process of the destruction of the two Holy Temples in Jerusalem.
The fast of the 17th of Tammuz, the day of the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem,
marks the beginning of the Three Weeks". The fast of the 9th of Av, commemorates
the day of the actual destruction by fire of the Holy Temple, and is the last
day of the Three Weeks. The three weeks is a period of mourning over these
destructions.
The
Three Weeks, for the year 5768 / 2007-2008, begin on July 20, 2008 (17th of
Tammuz), and continue through August 10, 2008 (9th of Av).
Tishrei 1 - 2, 5768
(13 - 14 September 2007)
Rosh Hashana
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Rosh
Hashanah |
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| The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah because in Hebrew rosh means "head" and shana means "year". Rosh Hashana is the "head" or "beginning" of the Jewish New Year. | |||
We
celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the first day of the Hebrew month called
Tishri.
Tishri usually falls in the month of September. |
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| On Rosh Hashanah, we blow a shofar in the synagogue to announce that the new Jewish year is beginning. A shofar is the horn of an animal. It may be the horn of a deer or antelope, but usually it is the horn of a ram. The inside of the horn is hollowed out so that when we blow the shofar beautiful sounds can pass through and remind the congregation to atone for their sins. | |||
| Rosh Hashanah lasts two days. On the first afternoon it is customary to throw one's sins symbolically into running water. We start the first meal by eating a piece of bread and a sweet apple dipped in honey to symbolise the sweetness of the year we hope to have, and many families eat honey cake for the same reason. |  |
The period from Rosh Hashanah to the end of Yom Kippur is known as the Ten Days of Penitence solemn days during which extra prayers are said. | |
| Maybe
you would like to try this recipe. |
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| Taiglach A Traditional Sweet With Lots of Honey For a Sweet New Year Cooking utensils you will need: 1 large mixing bowl 1 9X13 metal rectangular pan 1 wooden spoon 1 wooden cutting board or tray |
Ingredients
you will need: |
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| Turn oven on to 325° | Mix the eggs, 2 tsp sugar, oil, rind, flour and baking powder. Knead until smooth enough to roll (it will feel like play-doh). Roll into long "snakes" or "ropes" about 3/8 inch thick, then cut into pieces about 3/8 inch long. On the stove, bring the honey, the sugar and the ginger to a boil in the rectangular pan. When the mixture begins to bubble, drop the dough pieces in one at a time. When all dough has been dropped in, place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes. DO NOT OPEN the oven during these first 20 minutes. (It's a good idea to put a sheet of foil on the bottom of the oven beneath the pan to catch any drips from the pan if it bubbles over during this step or step 4). |
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| After 20 minutes, add the nuts and stir carefully with a wooden spoon. | Bake another 20 to 40 minutes until pieces are golden brown. During this time, stir occasionally with a wooden spoon. Pour ingredients onto a wooden cutting board or tray which has been moistened with cold water. Sprinkle with sugar and ginger. Cool. Use a wooden spoon to separate the pieces and break up the large clumps. Cool some more. |
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Tishrei 4, 5768
(16 September 2007)
Tzom Gedalya - The Fast of Gedalya
After Nevuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple and the nation of Israel was exiled to Babylon, a small contingency of Jews remained in the land of Israel. Nevuchadnezzar appointed Gedalya as a "governor" over them. When the Jews who were in exile heard that a group of Jews was allowed to remain in Israel and that Gedalya was appointed to oversee them, they were happy, and people started returning to the land to live.
The King of the neighboring nation of Amon, Balis, did not want the Jews to stay happy. He convinced Yishmael ben Nesania that he should assassinate Gedalya. According to the commentators, Yishmael was of royal blood. Balis, in order to provoke Yishmael into killing Gedalya, would "tease" Yishmael about the fact that a "commoner" was appointed a leader over Israel, and that Yishmael, who was of royalty, was passed over for the job. This caused Yishmael to become envious and jealous of Gedalya, to the extent that Yishmael decided to kill Gedalya.
At the
beginning of the month of Tishrei, Yishmael came to Gedalya. Although Gedalya
had been told that Yishmael was coming to kill him, he did not believe it
because he did not want to believe this "lashon ho'ra," or slander.
When Yishmael arrived, Gedalya treated him with respect. Then Yishmael and
his henchmen turned on Gedalya and killed him. The Jews who were then living
in Israel feared reprisals from Nevuchadnezzar ( as "they" killed
the leader he had appointed) and fled to Egypt. The land of Israel was then
devoid of Jews. This day, therefore, is a day of great tragedy, and therefore
we fast.
Tishrei 10, 5768
(September 22, 2007)
Yom Kippur
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Yom
Kippur |
There is one holiday during the year when we spend the whole day praying in the synagogue. That holiday is Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. |
| The Day of Atonement is the holiest day of the Jewish year. The day starts in the evening at sundown and ends the next evening at nightfall: that is a total of 25 hours. These are spent in prayer and fasting, reassessing the past year's deeds, asking forgiveness for sins committed and determining to lead a better and more charitable life the following year. Before asking G-d to forgive us we have to seek forgiveness from any person we may have harmed in some way. The fasting involves total abstinence from food and drink, even water. Every adult fasts - girls from the age of 12 and boys from the age of 13. People gather to pray in the synagogue which has white draperies as a sign of purity, and some people wear white for the same reason. The Fast starts with a service called Kol Nidre after the opening words of the first prayer with its haunting and evocative melody.
The fast ends with the solemn and awesome sound of the shofar. |
Atonement means saying we are sorry for the bad things we have done and promising not to repeat them. In our prayers, we ask to be forgiven for our mistakes. We do not eat food or drink liquids throughout the day. Our thoughts are only on prayers. |
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Click picture for the story of Jonah and the Whale |
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Tishrei 15 - 20, 5768
(September 27 - October 2, 2007)
Succot
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Every year, five days after Yom Kippur, we celebrate Succot for a week. Before Succot, we build a small hut in our garden. The hut is called a succah. It reminds us of the flimsy houses the Jews lived in while in the desert, after they escaped from Egypt. We cover the roof of the succah with branches and leaves with enough spacesfor the stars to be seen through.
The succah is decorated with fruit hanging from its roof, as Succot is also a harvest festival. Families that build a succah eat all their meals in it throughout the seven-day festival - weather permitting.
Hoshana
Rabba (Great Hosanna)
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Tishrei 21, 5768
(October 3, 2007)
Hoshana Rabba
| On Hashana Rabba (the last day of the festival of Succos), giant Aravos (willow branches like you never saw!) were brought into the courtyard and placed on the ground next to the Mizbe'ach (altar right), their heads draped over the top of the Ma'aracha (pyre on the altar). These branches measured close to thirty feet long! The custom of buying , and later carrying, bunches of Aravos on Hoshana Rabba is a reflection of this most ancient Temple custom. |
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Tishrei 22, 5768
(October 4, 2007)
Shemini Atzeres - Rejoicing of the Law
A special, extra day at the end of Succot.
"G_d says "Kasheh alay peridaschem - It is so terribly difficult for me to see you go" and we as a Jewish people have responded with Simchas Torah. We also do not want to leave G_d and the special relationship we have established. We also desire one more day, one more Festival with G_d. Through the impact of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah we can hold on to the closeness with G_d achieved on Sukkot, in all of our actions and thoughts." Rabbi Boruch Leff.
The synagogue service of Shemini Atzaret includes a special prayer for rain to make the next year's crops grow - particularly necessary in the dry climate of the land of the Bible.
Tishrei 23, 5768
(October 5, 2007)
Simchat Torah
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It is a very happy occasion and all the scrolls are taken out of the ark and processed around the bimah (the table where the scrolls are placed to be read) seven times. The greatest honour goes to the bridegrooms, those who read the last chapter of Deuteronomy and the first part of Genesis. |
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Kislev25 - Teves 3, 5768
(December 5 - 12, 2007)
Hanukkah
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Hanukkah |
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| Festival of Lights. A happy festival lasting eight days. It celebrates a miracle which occurred over 2000 years ago when the mighty Syrian Emperor ANTIOCHUS had overrun Judea and tried to prevent the Jews from practising their own religion on pain of death. |
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| Judah Maccabee, the leader of the Jewish freedom fighters led a successful rebellion against the Greek sponsored Syrian King, Antiochus. Against all odds they regained Jerusalem and the holy Temple. On reaching the Temple in Jerusalem, his first priority was to clean and re-dedicate the Temple as well as removing the Greek idols.Judah's men searched for the consecrated oil with which to light the Temple lamps. They discovered only one, small cruse of oil with the High Priest's seal. The Maccabees knew that there was just sufficient oil to keep the lights going for one night. But a miracle happened - that one small cruse of oil lasted not just one, but for eight nights, which gave enough time for fresh supplies of consecrated oil to be delivered. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Jewish calendar (15th December this year). On that night the first of eight candles is lit on the Chanukiah - a special Menorah (or candlestick) that has nine branches. Eight of the candles are for each night of Chanukah, and the highest candle, known as the Shamash (or Servant) is used to light the others. Each night of the festival the number of lights increases until the eighth day when the Menorah is ablaze! Follow this link for much more about SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Spinning the Dreidel is a popular Chanukah tradition. It is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each face. The letters spell out 'A great miracle happened here'.
Click the dreidl, play the game Traditionally potato latkes and doughnuts are eaten, children get little presents and play with spinning tops or dreidls. The family sings a cheerful hymn called Maoz Tsur about the many miraculous ways G_d has saved the Jewish people. Although normal work can be done on this festival, while the lights are burning the woman of the house relaxes? |
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The Menorah has now become the symbol of Isreal's fight through the ages for spiritual survival.
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Click here for some fun |
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Teves 10, 5768
(Dec.19, 2007)
Fast of 10th of Teves
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Fast takes place on the 10th of Teves (Tuesday 10 January 2006)
from sunrise to sunset. It commemorates the siege of Jerusalem by the wicked King Nebuchadnetzar of Babylon. This siege was the beginning of the whole chain of calamities that finally ended with the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. Famine was intense in the city, the people had no bread, and the city was breached. The real significance of the Fast as well as that of the other fast days is not primarily the grief and mourning that they evoke. Their aim is to awaken the hearts towards repentance. Every generation has the capacity to awaken Divine mercy that Israel be redeemed by the Mashiach. |
Shvat 15, 5768
(January 22, 2008)
Praise
to Adonai, who is Lord and ruler over all, for creating the fruit
of the trees.
| Tu B'Shvat is on the Fifteenth of the Hebrew month of Shevat and is the "New Year for the Trees" or Rosh Hashana La-ilanot. In Israel everything is green and it is the start of spring. | ||||
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It is just the right time to plant trees. On the fifteenth (Tu in Hebrew) we plant trees which will grow strong and tall. |  |
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| An ancient custom in Israel when a baby was born, the parents planted a tree in its honor. The tree was planted on Tu B'Shvat following the child's birth. If the baby was a boy, a cedar was planted. If the baby was a girl, a cypress was planted. As the children grew so did the trees. When children got married the wood from the trees built their chupah (wedding canopy). As the wood from the two trees were joined in the chupah so were the bride and groom in their marriage. | ||||
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Praise to Adonai, who is Lord and ruler over all, for keeping us well to reach this season. | |||
| Many
hundreds of years Tu B'Shvat has been celebrated throughout
the world. Even when we had no homeland we still remembered
and celebrated Tu B'Shvat. Although many could not plant trees
because it was not spring during the fifteenth of Shevat where
they lived, they ate the "fruit of the trees" and
remembered. The fruits of the trees they ate were like those
in Israel: almonds, dates, figs, raisins, and carob. It was
considered a mitzva to eat these fruits during Tu B'Shvat and
recite the blessings. |
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| A
modern tradition for people who live outside of Israel is to
plant a tree in Israel by contributing to the Israel National
Fund. They will plant a tree for you in Israel.
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Adar 13, 5768
(March 20, 2008)
Fast of Esther
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Queen Esther |
During the period of time between the destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second Temple, the Jews came very close to being anihilated because of the evil scheming of Haman with the King of Persia, Achashverosh. Because of the clandestine intervention of Hashem, using Queen Esther and her uncle Mordechai as His messengers, the Jews were spared, and instead the nation of Israel was able to avenge themselves against their enemies. In order to commemorate these miraculous turn of events, we celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar (and in walled cities such as Jerusalem, on the 15th of Adar) with feasts, sending gifts of food to our friends and the needy, and with the reading of the Megilla, the story of Purim. The Fast of Esther is held on the day before Purim. We fast the whole day in order to commemorate the fast that Esther fasted before she went before the King Achashverosh to plead for mercy for the Jews. On this day we remember the dire situation that the Jews were faced with in those days and many times throughout history. |
Adar 14, 5768
(March 21, 2008)
Purim
| Purim - Feast of Lots | Purim falls on 4th March. | |||
| Purim is one of the happiest festivals in the Jewish calendar. The date was chosen by lots (Purim in Hebrew) for the destruction of all of the Jews in the Persian Empire over 2400 years ago. We celebrate because the plan was foiled and the Jews were saved. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes 1) of Persia removed his queen for disobeying him in front of his princes. Then, feeling somewhat lonely, he chose (from a large field!) a new queen, Esther, who, unbeknown to him, was Jewish. Her uncle, Mordecai, infuriated the chief minister, Haman, by refusing to bow down to him, so Haman got permission to have him hanged - and to destroy all the Jews at the same time.
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Queen Esther, hearing of this decree, fasted and prayed to G_d for three days, then invited the King and Haman to a banquet at which she begged her husband to spare her life and that of her people. |
In the synagogue the Purim story is read from a scroll called a megillah. To the children's delight every time the name of Haman is heard, they are encouraged to drown the sound of the accursed name by stamping their feet and shaking something loud. | ||
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In school, Purim is a fun day |
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| King
Ahasuerus was enraged and ordered that Haman, the instigator
of this decree, should be hanged on the gallows prepared for
Mordecai, and the Jews were saved. |
At home there is a celebration meal, including little three-cornered cakes(shaped like Haman's hat, filled with poppy seeds) For children, fancy dress is the order of the day and some will go from house to house to help distribute small presents of food to friends and collect money for charity. | |||
| Hamantaschen 1 2 3 4 5 6 | ||||
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| Blessed
are you Adonai, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us
with your commandments, and commanded us concerning the reading
of the Megillah.
Boruch
Atah Adonoi Eloheinu Melech Haolom Asher |
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Nissan 15 - 22, 5768
(April 20 - 27, 2008)
Pesach
| Pesach Passover | On
the first two nights of the festival, a family ceremony, the Seder
Service is held. When all are gathered round the table, the youngest
child present asks four questions about the service. What
makes this night different from all other nights...
In reply, the head of the family relates the story of Exodus from Egypt, reading and singing from the Haggadah which is an ancient explanation and commentary on the service. |
Symbols form an important part of the evening. For instance, on the table there is a roasted meat bone to commemorate the sacrifice which was made in olden times (all sacrifices were stopped when the Temple was destroyed; bitter herbs (maror in Hebrew) as a reminder of the harshness of slavery; charoset (a mixture of chopped nuts, apples and wine) to represent the mortar used in their forced labour; and salt water for tears shed by the slaves and the crossing of the red Sea. Four cups of wine must be drunk as a reminder of the four promises made by G_d to redeem Israel. (Exodus 6, 6-7) It is a happy occasion and time for celebration. As the children play such an important role, it's also a grand excuse for them to stay up really late for two nights of the year!
(He is Mighty) |
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| Pesach is the Jewish festival of freedom which lasts for eight days. It commemorates the time over 3000 years ago when Pharo had enslaved the Children of Israel. In spite of Moses' pleading, it was only after G_d sent down the ten plagues that Pharoah finally agreed to let them go. They then started their journeying through the wilderness under Moses' leadership and were guided by G_d to the Promised Land.
The Exodus from Egypt started so suddenly that the Children of Israel didn't have time to allow the dough of their bread to rise, so it was baked into unleavened bread. Ever since then the Jewish people eat only unleavened bread - matza - on Pesach. Bread is not allowed, and anything containing risen flour or yeast must be cleared away.Even the dishes and pans used for Pesach food have to be different. So an enormous spring cleaning occurs, with the deadline the day before the festival. An orthodox household will have a complete set of dishes which are only used on Pesach and then put away until the following year. Fortunately much is handed down from parent to child. |
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Nissan 27, 5768
(May 2, 2008)
Holocaust Day
When we remember the terrible persecutions that Jews have suffered through history because of their faith.
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