What do the different Jewish holidays mean?

There are many Jewish holidays with a variety of complicated laws, rituals, and traditions. This is the barest outline of some of the most important ones, which the reader should understand are observed with varying degrees of exactness, depending upon whether or not one is an orthodox Jew. However, central to all Judaism is the belief that God is eternal and the Messiah will one-day arrive.

The Jewish year, which follows its own calendar, begins with the ten days of ROSH HOSHANA, the days of atonement in late September or early October. Every effort is made to live correctly, i.e. follow the Halakah or Torah laws, during this time, as it is believed that a tree initially growing crooked will have a difficult time righting itself. The name Rosh Hoshana refers to the "head" of the year and is a commemoration of the creation of the world. During this period there is a two day festival where candles are lit, kiddush (special prayers) are said with wine, and new clothes are worn. Sweet apples in honey are consumed as well. The blowing of the shofar (ram's horn) signifies not only the end of the holiday, but a wake-up call to remember God's laws and the redemption of the Jews.

Rosh Hoshana is directly succeeded by Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. This is the day it is believed that God renders judgments for the preceding year's behavior. It is important that sins towards God be dealt with prior to Yom Kippur whereas sins towards humans must be dealt with on a one to one basis.

YOM KIPPUR imposes strict regulations on behavior. A fast, including avoidance of water, is observed from sundown to sundown the next day. No bath is taken. Sexual activity is forbidden. The day is to be spent in prayer in the synagogue. White is the customary color to wear on Yom Kippur, and the kittel (white burial robe) is sometimes donned.

Five days after Yom Kippur, the five days of SUKKOT begin. Sukkot is much different in tone from what has preceded. Sukkot is a time of rejoicing with the dual purpose of remembering the Jews wandering in the desert and commemorating the harvest. During Sukkot, Jews are required to construct a three-sided tent (booth), the roof of which must be made of corn stalks or sticks or other items taken from the earth. Customarily the Sukkot tent is decorated with hanging objects, and the specifications of the Sukkot suggest that the roof of the tent admit both rain and light. In connection with Sukkot a lulav is often prepared. A lulav is a woven object with six components, including fruit of the citron tree, each of which components is a plant mentioned in the Torah. Waving of the lulav during the recitation of blessings constitutes a mitzvoh, or good deed, on God's behalf.

Gentiles often believe that CHANNUKAH (silent C) is some sort of Jewish parallel to Christmas since they both fall in December, but this is incorrect. Channukah is actually a minor eight-day Jewish holiday to celebrate the rededication of the temple. After ancient Jews under Alexander the Great had been tolerated and assimilated, Antiochus IV persecuted Jews, posting Greek guards in temples, commanding that pigs be roasted there, and massacring believers. A Jewish rebellion ensued which ended in the rededication of the temple. Channukah commemorates this with the lighting of menorah candles in sequential order. Traditionally latkes, potato pancakes, are eaten at this time, and a gambling game with a dreidel (top) is played.

Mid-March brings us to PURIM (poorim). Purim is a festive celebration commemorating a Jewish triumph over oppression. Celebrated on 14-15 Adar on the Hebrew calendar, Purim is a time for a dress-up party reminiscent of Halloween. Hamatash (sweet goodies) and groggers (whirling noisemaking devices) are part of the fun. Prior to the party the Megillah is read. The Megillah is the Torah story of Esther's triumph over the Jewish oppressor, Haman. It's also customary to give monetary gifts to at least two poor people at Purim.

Purim is succeeded by PESACH (meaning protection) or Passover in mid-April. Eight days long, commencing on 15 Nissan, Pesach commemorates the miraculous parting of the Red Sea after the Jews had been held in bondage in ancient Egypt. One of the key aspects of Pesach is ridding one's possessions of chametz (silent c),i.e., crumbs of leavened bread. This intensive cleaning, searching for even tiny bits of leavened bread, harks back to the sudden departure of the Jews from Egypt when there was no time to bake bread. Hence, unleavened bread (matzos) is eaten during Purim. This holiday period involves fasting days, the reading of the Hagaddah (Exodus), and family meals or seders.

Fifty days after Purim SHAVUOUT is celebrated. The preceding days are days of mourning in which no marriage may be celebrated and no haircut or shaving is done. Shavuot honors the achievement of sufficient wisdom by Jews for God to grant Torah. The holiday is a one day holiday to signify that Torah is not constrained by time. Customarily one eats dairy products during Shavuot for they are believed to have a connection to kindness.

And finally there is TISHA B'AV (tishabob). Tisha b'av is a series of five fast days in successive months. These fast days are set aside to mourn the destruction of the temple and repeated violence against Jews. The idea of the fast is a reflection upon the sins of Jews who lost faith and one's own sins. An unusual aspect of Tish b'av is that the day before the fast, prior to sunset, one is to eat alone seated on the floor. Bread dipped in ash or an egg are traditional food items prior to the fast.