1. Jewish Festivals, Rituals, Practices

2. Jewish Festivals days begin at nightfall lunar month:
Nature is the key (not clocks and calendars)
days begin at nightfall
lunar month:
29 1/2 days
solar year (365 1/4 days)
festivals follow seasons

3. Jewish Calendar Name Month Length Gregorian
of Month Number of Month Equivalent
Nissan 1 30 days March-April
Iyar 2 29 days April-May
Sivan 3 30 days May-June
Tammuz 4 29 days June-July
Av 5 30 days July-August
Elul 6 29 days August-September
Tishrei 7 30 days September-October
Cheshvan 8 29 or 30 days October-November
Kislev 9 29 or 30 days November-December
Tevet days December-January
Shevat days January-February
Adar or 30 days February-March
Adar II days March-April

4. Jewish Festivals days begin at nightfall lunar month:
Nature is the key (not clocks and calendars)
days begin at nightfall
lunar month:
29 1/2 days
solar year (365 1/4 days)
festivals follow seasons
Sabbath (and New Moon)
Pilgrim Festivals
“Days of Awe”
Fast Days

5. Pilgrim Festivals Name Commemorates Spiritual Agricultural Pesach
(Passover)
spring
the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
God is the redeemer, go from slavery to Egypt to serving God (alone)
Spring, barley harvest
Shavuot
(Pentecost)
early summer
Giving of the ten commandments on Sinai
Revelation of Torah (completes Exodus experience)
Wheat harvest/ first fruits
Succot
(Tabernacles)
autumn
God protected Israelite in the desert
God is our protector; symbolized by leaving homes and dwelling in tents
The final Harvest Festival
Source: Norman Solomon, Judaism.

6. “Days of Awe” Rosh Hoshana (New Year)-- September 9-10, 2010/5771
New Year’s Eve: food symbolizing sweetness (e.g., bread dipped in honey); pray: “May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.”
Morning Service: four to six hours; focus on God as creator, king and judge; sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) periodically.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)—September 18, 2010/5771
high attendance (strong cultural celebration)
various forms of fasting and restraint are practiced
emphasizes Teshuva (repentance)
Kol Nidrei (opens synagogue service Yom Kippur eve)
Ne’ilah (“closing of the gates”); chanting “Avinu Malkenu” (“Our Father, Our King”)

7. Other Festivals
Chanukah (rededication of Temple by Hasmoneans in 165 BCE, [also the miracle of the oil, and thus victory of light over darkness])
Purim (rescue of Jews from extermination under Ahasuerus, Esther, carnival atmosphere, distributing alms to the needy, merriment)
The New Year for Trees (mentioned in the Talmud but only popular after the “return to the land,” school holiday in Israel, tree planting)
Yom Ha-Atzma (Israel Independence Day, somewhat controversial)