1. Major Jewish Holidays

2. --“Jewish New Year” --Western New Year ≠ Jewish New Year --Observances: casting away sins, no work, day of prayer

3. --Jewish Year 5770: sunset September 18, 2009 - nightfall September 20, 2009 --Jewish Year 5771: sunset September 8, 2010 – nightfall September 10, 2010

4. Rosh Hashanah Apples with Honey

5. --Day of Atonement --at-one-ment --Last chance to change your judgment --Observances: 25-hour fast, prayer, absolutely no work --Considered holiest day of the year

6. --”passing over” the Jews when God was slaying the first born of Egypt --Observances: cannot eat chametz—any bread that has not been cooked within 18 minutes after the grain has come into contact with water. --Bread did not raise—symbolically removing the “puffiness” or arrogance from our lives

7. Passover --Specific order to what cannot be eaten, when, how it is prepared, and when hands must be washed during food preparation

8. --Celebration of a military battle --Festival of Lights and the oil-based miracle --Menorah --Eight Nights --Observances: eating, playing games, gelt, prayers

9. Chanukah --to celebrate the oil-based miracle, Jews eat food rich in oil: latkes, sufganiyot, and some types of cheese.