Holidays

ROSH HASHANAH

The Jewish New Year, Rosh ("Head of the Year"), is a time of prayer, self-reflection, and t'shuvah (repentance). We reflect on our actions throughout the previous year and consider how we may improve ourselves, our communities, and our world in the coming year. The feast begins off the Yamim Nora-im ("Days of Awe" or "High Holidays"), a 10-day period that begins with Rosh HaShanah and ends with Yom Kippur (the "Day of Atonement").
Rosh HaShanah is observed by Jews all over the world, with prayer and contemplation often taking place in a synagogue. At home, there are a number of holiday traditions.

SUKKOT

The Jewish festival of Sukkot is one of the most joyous on the Jewish calendar. The Jewish festival of Sukkot, which means "booths" or "huts" in Hebrew, commemorates the fall harvest.
The holiday also commemorates the 40 years of Jewish exile in the desert following the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Sukkot, also known as Z'man Simchateinu (Season of Our Rejoicing), is the only Jewish festival that has an explicit instruction to rejoice.
On the 15th of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, five days after Yom Kippur, Sukkot is observed, and it is marked by various distinct traditions. One option is to build a sukkah, a small, temporary booth or cottage, which takes the command to dwell in booths literally.

CHANUKAH

Chanukah, one of the most commonly recognized Jewish holidays, is an eight-day festival also known as the Festival of Lights that gives light, joy, and warmth to our homes and communities. Light comes in two forms: practically, with the addition of a candle each day, and symbolically, with a renewed emphasis on charity giving and a dedication to tikkun olam over the holiday season. Chanukah commemorates the triumph of a small group of Jewish rebels (headed by Judah Maccabee and his brothers, commonly known as "the Maccabees") over Syria's army in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent victory over of the Syrian armies.

The lighting of the Chanukah menorah (also known as a hanukkiyah); singing and playing special songs and games (dreidel); and eating foods prepared in oil such as latkes, sufganiyot, bimuelos (fried dough puffs), and keftes de prasas (leek patties) are all part of modern Chanukah celebrations.

SHAVUOT

Shavuot is a Jewish festival that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and encourages us to follow the Torah's teachings and be inspired by the wisdom of Jewish tradition. The Hebrew term for "weeks" is Shavuot, and the holiday falls seven weeks after Passover.

Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as a harvest celebration marking the completion of the spring barley crop and the start of the summer wheat harvest.
Shavuot was an ancient pilgrimage holiday during which Israelites sent agricultural offerings to Jerusalem's Temple.
It is now a celebration of Torah, education, and the decision to actively participate in Jewish life.