Hebrew Calendar / Festivals - hebyear.txt [1/1]

[Robert D. Kaiser <kaiser...>]

Hebrew Holiday Calendar - by Robert D. Kaiser

This document quotes substantially from "A Guide to Jewish
Religious Practice" by Rabbi Isaac Klein, published by The Jewish
Theological Seminary of America.



Erev Rosh Hashanah - Elul 29
Rosh Hashanah - Tishri 1

     Also known as Yom Hadin, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Teruah (Day
of the sounding of the shofar).  The Mishna sets this day aside as
the new year for calculating calendar years, sabbatical and jubilee
years, vegetable tithes, and tree-planting (determining the age of
a tree).

     The creation of the world was finished on Tishri 1.  This
holiday, the Jewish spiritual New Year, is characterized by the
blowing of the shofar.  During the afternoon of the first day
occurs the practice of tashlikh, the symbolic casting away of sins
by throwing stones into the waters.



Fast of Gedaliah - Tishri 3

     This fast commemorates the slaying of Gedaliah Ben Akhikam,
whom Nebuchadnezzar appointed governor of Judah after the first
destruction of the Temple (Jeremiah 40:7,  II Kings 25:22.)  His
death was the final blow to hopes that the Jewish state might
survive the Babylonian domination.



Erev Yom Kippur - Tishri 9
Yom Kippur - Tishri 10

     The day of repentance.  The holiest and most solemn day of the
year.  Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation.  Eating,
drinking, bathing, and conjugal relations are prohibited.  Fasting
begins at sundown, and ends after nightfall the following day.

     Yom Kippur services begin with Kol Nidrei, which must be
recited before sunset.  A Talit is donned for evening prayers - the
only evening service of the year in which this is done.

     The Ne'ilah service is a special service held only on the day
of Yom Kippur, and deals with the closing of the holiday.  Yom
Kippur comes to an end with the blowing of the shofar, which
marks the conclusion of the fast.



Erev Sukkot - Tishri 14
Sukkot - Tishri 15

     The third Pilgrimage festival, it is also known as The Feast
of Booths (Tabernacles), The Feast of Ingathering, or just simply
The Hag (The Festival).

     Sukkot is an eight day festival.  The first two days are
celebrated as full holidays.  The following five days are known as
Hol Hamo'ed - weekdays that retain some aspects of the festival. 
The seventh day (fifth of the intermediate days) is Hoshanah
Rabbah - and has a special observance of its own.  The last day,
the eighth, is celebrated as separate holiday, with its own special
prayers and customs (see below).

     Sukkot commemorates the life of the Israelites in the desert
during their journey to the promised land.  During their wandering
in the desert they lived in booths (Sukkot).   The Torah directs us
to use four species of plants to celebrate the holiday:  The lulav
(palm branch), etrog (lemon-like citron), myrtle, and willow.  The
etrog is handled separately, while the other  three species are
bound together, and are collectively referred to as the lulav.

     During the five intermediate days of Sukkot it is customary to
read the book of Ecclesiastes.


Hosha'nah Rabbah - The seventh day of Sukkot.

     This day closes the period of repentance that began on Rosh
Hashanah.   Tradition has made this day into a sequel to the Days
of Awe, lengthening  the period of penitence and postponing the day
when final sentence is to be rendered.


Shemini Atzeret - Tishri 22

     The eighth day of Sukkot.  In the Talmud it is written that
"the eighth day [of Sukkot] is a separate festival", so Sukkot is
really observed as seven days, and Shemini Atzeret is observed as
a separate  holiday.  It marks the beginning of the rainy season in
Israel.


Simhat Torah - Tishri 23
Rejoicing with the Torah.  The finale of Sukkot.

     In Israel, Sukkot is eight days long, including Shemini
Atzeret.  Outside Israel (the Diaspora), Sukkot is nine days long.
Thus the eighth day is Shemini Atzeret, and the extra (ninth) day
is Simchat Torah.  In Israel, the festivities and customs
associated with Simchat Torah are celebrated on Shemini Atzeret.


     The last portion of the Torah is read on this day.  The
following Shabbat we start the Torah again at the beginning of
Bereshis (Genesis).

     Festivities begin in the evening with Ma'ariv.  There are
seven  hakafot (processions) of the Torah around the Synagogue. 
Services are unconventionally joyous, and humorous deviations from
the standard service are allowed, and even expected.




Erev Chanukah - Kislev 24
Chanukah - Kislev 25

     Also known as Hag Ha'urim - The Festival of Lights

     The story of Chanukah is preserved in the books of the First
and Second Maccabees.  These books are not part of the Tanakh
(Bible), but are part of the Apocrypha (Hebrew historical and
religious material that  was not codified as part of the Bible.) 
The miracle of Chanukah is referred to in the Talmud, but not in
the books of the Maccabees.

     It marks the defeat of Assyrian forces who had tried to
prevent Israel from practicing Judaism.  Judah Maccabee and his
brothers destroyed the overwhelming forces, and rededicated the
Temple.  The eight day festival is marked by the kindling of lights
with a special Menorah, called a Chanukiah.



The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet - Tevet 10

     The fast marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the
forces of Nebuchadnezzar, and is thus connected with the
destruction of Jerusalem.  



Tu B'shevat - Shevat 15

     The new year for trees.  This day was set aside in the Mishna
on which to bring fruit tithes.  It is still celebrated in modern
times.  In the 1600's, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed and his
disciples created a short sedar, somewhat reminiscent of the sedar
we observe on Pesach, that explores the holiday's Kabbalistic
themes.




Erev Purim - Adar 13
Purim - Adar 14

     Purim begins at sundown.  The festival commemorates the events
found in the Book of Esther.  (Unlike the sources for Chanukah,
this book is found in the Tanakh).  The Shabbat preceding Purim is
called Shabbat Zachor - the Sabbath of remembrance.  The day before
Purim - Adar 13 - is the Fast of Esther.

     The book of Esther is written in the form of a scroll - the
Megillah.  It is chanted on Adar 13 in the evening, and on the next
day after the Torah reading.



New Year for Kings - Nisan 1

     Nisan is the first month of the Hebrew calendar;  In Mishnaic
times it was celebrated as the New Year for Kings and months. 
In addition to this one, the Mishna sets up three other New Year's:
Elul 1, for animal tithes, Tishrei 1 (Rosh HaShanah), and Shevat
15, the New Year for Trees/fruit tithes.  Ever since the Babylonian
diaspora, only the Rosh HaShanah and Tu B'Shevat are still
celebrated.



Erev Pesach (Passover) - Nisan 14
Pesach - Nisan 15

     The first Pilgrimage Festival, Pesach commemorates the
liberation of the Israelites from Egypt.  The first seder is on the
14th.  On the night of the 15th, the second seder is held, and we
start counting the Omer.  The Omer is a counting down of the days
from the time we left Egypt, until the Time we received the Torah
at Mount Sinai.


Sefirah (The counting)
Sefirat Ha'Omer

     Also known simply as The Omer, this 49 day period between
Pesach and Shavuot is defined by the Torah as the period to bring
special offerings to the Temple In Jerusalem;  This makes physical
the spiritual connection between Pesach and Shavuot.  Pesach marks
our liberation as we left Egypt, and Shavuot marks the receiving of
the Torah.  The counting begins the second night of Pesach.

     The Sefirah is a time of sadness.  During this period, 12,000
of Rabbi Akiva's disciples died.  This occurred during the
Hadrianic persecution which followed the Bar Kokhba revolt, in
which Rabbi Akiva was involved.  During this period, no weddings
take place, no hair is cut, and no activities occur involving
dancing and music.



Yom Ha'Shoah - Nisan 27
     Holocaust remembrance day.



Yom Hazikaron - Iyar 4
     Day of remembrance.  In honor of Israeli veterans of the War
of Independence.



Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Iyar 5
     Israel Independence Day



Lag Ba'Omer - Iyar 18   (The 33rd day of the Omer)

     Lag Ba'Omer takes place during the Sefirah.  During this day
there was a break in the Hadrianic persecution.  Weddings and
joyful occasions are permitted.



Yom Yerushalayim - Iyar 28

        Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) marks the reunification of
Jerusalem and The Temple Mount under Jewish rule almost 1900 years
after the destruction of the Second Temple.  

        The Hallel [a series of prayers of praise] is recited by
most Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform congregations.  Israel's
Chief Rabbis advocate reciting Hallel with a blessing.  The new
holidays of Yom Yerushalayim, Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha'atzma'ut and
Yom HaShoah are still too new for any consensus to have developed
in the Jewish community as to what the liturgy should be.



Erev Shavuot - Sivan 5
Shavuot - Sivan 6, 7

     The second Pilgrimage Festival, it is also known as The Feast
of Weeks, Hag Haqatsir (The harvest festival),  Hag HaShavuot, or
just 'Atseret - The conclusion of Pesach.  [Literally, the Hebrew
word 'atseret' means conclusion.]

     Shavuot marks the end of the counting of the Omer.  According
to Rabbinic tradition, the Ten Commandments were given on this day.
It is customary to read the Book of Ruth on this day.




The Fast of the Seventeenth of Tamuz - Tamuz 17

     Mentioned by the prophet Zechariah, the 17th of Tamuz marks
the beginning of the destruction of Jerusalem.  On this day in 70
B.C.E. the Romans breached the walls encircling Jerusalem, which
led to the destruction of the second Temple.  (During the siege
preceding the first destruction of the Temple in 587 B.C.E., the
Romans breached the walls on the ninth of Tamuz (Jeremiah 39:2),
but both events are commemorated on the same date.  The actual
destruction of the Temple itself took place on the 9th of Av - both
in 587 B.C.E. and 70 C.E.   See Tisha B'Av.)

     The fast begins at sunrise and concludes at sunset of the same
day.  this applies to all fats, with the exception of Yom Kippur
and Tisha B'Av, both of which begin on the preceding night. 
fasting is the only restriction imposed;  Working and bathing as
usual are permitted.




The Three Weeks and The Nine Days
    The Three Weeks: Tamuz 17 - Av 9
    The Nine Days: Av 1 - Av 9

     The days between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av are
considered days of mourning, for they witnessed the collapse of
Jerusalem.  Weddings and other joyful occasions are traditionally
not held in this period.

     A further element is added within the three weeks, during the
nine days between the 1st and 9th day of Av.  During this period
the pious refrain from eating meat and drinking wine, except of
course on Shabbat or at a Seudat Mitzvah (such as a Pidyon Haben or
completing the study of a religious text.)  In addition, one's hair
is not cut during this period.



Tisha B'Av - Av 9

     The saddest day of the Jewish calendar.  On this day both the
First and Second Temples were destroyed.  (587 b.c.e. and 70 c.e.) 
On this day in 1290, King Edward I signed the edict compelling the
Jews to leave England.   The Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492
also occurred on this day.  Tisha B'av also marked the outbreak of
World War I.

     The fast of Tisha B'av begins the night before, on the evening
of Av 8.  After Ma'ariv services, Sefer Eicha (the book of
Lamentations) is read.  This is followed by the reading of Kinot,
sorrowful hymns that emphasize the import of the fast.  On the day
of the ninth, Tallit and tefillin are not worn during Shachrit
services, as a sign of mourning.



New Year for Animal Tithes (Taxes) - Elul 1

     This day is set up by the Mishna as the New Year for animal
tithes, which roughly corresponds to a new year for taxes.  This is
similar to the tax deadline in the United States of America, on
April 15.  The date is disputed;  Some authorities claim that it
was observed on Tishrei 1 (Rosh HaShanah).  The actual date is
now merely academic; This holiday has not been observed since the
Babylonian diaspora.

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