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Rosh Hashanah
The First Holiday of the YearRosh Hashanah is Hebrew for "Head of the Year." It is considered to be the birthday of the world and it is the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is a time to learn from your mistakes of the past year, and to think about how you can improve yourself in the future.
People often dress up for this very important holiday: wear beautiful dresses and suits.
People listen to the shofar. The shofar is a ram's horn. It is a symbol of spiritual awakening and reflection. -
Rosh Hashanah
How Do We Celebrate? People say the Rosh Hashanah blessings for the candles, wine, and challah (Hebrew: "bread"). The challah is round on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the cycle of the year.
Apples dipped in honey is a traditional food as well. This tradition signifies the hope for "A Sweet New Year." Another common Rosh Hashanah food is the pomegranate. -
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is on the 4th of October this year. On Yom Kippur we don’t eat,
drink, drive cars, work or use power.
We ride our bikes on the road because there are no cars
on Yom Kippur. We go to the synagogue, wear white clothing
and pray to God. Yom Kippur is considered to be the most holy day of the year. -
Succot
Succot
On this holiday many Jews build an arbor. It’s celebrated for seven days. On Succot people bless the four species: the lulav, willow, myrtle and citron.This year succot is celebrated from 8 to 17 of October 2014. On Succot people don’t eat any special food. -
Hanukkah
At Chanukah we light Chanukah candles in memory of the victory of the Hashmonean Revolt and eat donuts , and foods associated with the holiday that lasts for eight days. Holiday begins on December 16 and ends on December 24.
On Hanukkah children spin dreidels. -
Tu B'shvat
Tu B’Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shvat (in 2014, Tu B’Shvat began at sunset on 15th of January and ended at nightfall on 16th of January). It is also called "Rosh HaShanah La'ilanot" , which means "New Year of the Trees." In modern Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration of it. -
Purim
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day." On Purim Jewish people read Megilat Esther, give money gifts to the poor and food gifts to friends, dress up. -
Passover
Passover is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish year. At this time Jewish people remember how the children of Israel left slavery behind them when they were led out of Egypt by Moses over 3000 years ago. The celebrations last for seven or eight days. Some families clean their houses thoroughly to remove all crumbs of chametz. On the evening before the Passover begins special service called a Seder. On the table, there are three Matzot. Everybody takes part in reading the Haggada -
Yom Hashoa
Yom HaZikaron is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day. At 10 a.m a siren is played all over Israel for two minutes, followed by other commemorative events Places of entertainment, restaurants, cafes and cinemas are closed on Holocaust Remembrance Day . -
Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day for Israel's Fallen Soldiers is aimed at unifying the citizens of Israel with the memory of the state's fallen soldiers, whose sacrifice enabled Israel's existence. This day is marked each year on the 4th of the Hebrew month of Iyar and it is always marked one day before Independence Day, -
Lag BaOmer
Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, which starts on the second night of Pesach and ends on Shavuot.The counting of the Omer is a ritual that dates back to ancient times, students of Rabbi Akiva from a plague these days have become days of national mourning, during which certain prohibitions apply, such as the prohibitions against cutting one’s hair or holding weddings. -
Jerusalem Day
Jerusalem Day commemorates Jerusalem's reunification in 1967. This day begins on 28th day of the month of Iyyar in the Hebrew calendar. This day is marked with a range of events in many Jewish communities. These include: recitations of the Hallel prayer for praise and thanksgiving in synagogues; street parades, parties, singing and dancing; special meals; and lectures on the history and future of Jerusalem. -
Shavuot
The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. On this holiday Jewish people celebrate the day when God gave them the Torah on Mount Sinay and renew their acceptance of God’s gift. On this holiday people use to eat diary food.
