The High Holy Days - Jewish Year 5772

 Passover

April 6-14

Passover is the holiday most celebrated by American Jews for two reasons: it is celebrated at home, and its themes are compelling — freedom from slavery and springtime renewal.
Passover commemorates the exodus of Jewish slaves from Egypt. The name Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) refers to God "passing over" the houses of the Jews when slaying the firstborn of Egypt. (The last of 10 plagues visited upon the Egyptians.)
The story of Passover is told around the dinner table annually as a way of ensuring that each generation understands the powerful events of the Exodus and their impact on forming am Yisrael "the Jewish community."

more... 

 Purim

March 11

Purim celebrates the events described in the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther). It is a tale of an all-powerful king, a beautiful and courageous heroine, a loyal cousin and a villain who is foiled by his own evil plans. The story has a familiar theme: the unlikely triumph of the Jews against a tyrannical enemy who sought to destroy them. The word Purim means “lots” and refers to the casting of lots to determine the day that the Jews were to be destroyed by the evil Haman. The custom is to blot out his name by drowning it with noise every time it is mentioned in the Megillat Esther.

 more...

Hanukkah

Sundown Dec. 20-28

Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the miracle of light burning in the Holy Temple. When the Maccabees conquered the Greek oppressors and took back the Temple, they cleaned and repaired the damage, and went to fetch the oil needed for the ner tamid (eternal light) menorah in the Temple. It took eight days to come back with clean oil. During that time, the oil they thought would only last for one day, lasted for 8 days and nights. The Hanukkiah holds nine candles: one for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah, plus a shammus (servant) which usually sits higher and does the job of lighting the other candles.

more...

Sukkot

Sundown Oct. 12-20

The Hebrew word Sukkot (plural of sukkah) means booths. In our backyards, on our porches, and outside our JCC, Jews mark the fall harvest by building sturdy, yet fragile, structures out of natural materials, symbolizing both human vulnerability and God’s protection. Reminiscent of camping in the temporary booths or shelters that Jews occupied during the exodus, building a sukkah gives us a chance to be in nature (you must be able to see the stars through the roof), entertain guests (hakhnasat orekhim), and feel gratitude for the bounty of our lives (blessings said with the lulav and etrog).

more...

 Yom Kippur

Sundown Oct. 7 - Sundown Oct. 8

"Day of Atonement" is one of the most solumn days of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. It is a day set aside for us to atone for the sins of the past year and focus on how we will change.

more...

Rosh Hashanah

Sundown Sept. 28 - Sundown Sept. 30

"Head of the Year" is the Jewish New Year, celebrating 5772 years since the creation of the world. Rosh Hashanah is a time of renewal, reflection and prayer. It is a time to ask for forgiveness and promise to do better. The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are spent in serious intropsection.

more...