Jewish holidays are one of the richest and most special parts of Jewish life.  From wearing all white to dipping apples in honey (it’s delicious) to sitting under the stars in special huts we built in our backyards, Judaism has no shortage of fun and interesting holiday practices.  A few things to know: the “Jewish calendar” is a lunar calendar, meaning that all of the days go from sundown to sundown.  Also, our new year (“Rosh Hashana” in Hebrew) is in the fall, falling around September or October.  This is when the Jewish calendar begins.

Shabbat

Shabbat/Shabbos, aka the Sabbath, is a weekly holiday and a personal favorite of mine.  I’m sure you’ve heard the whole “On the Seventh day, G-d rested” shpiel.  Or maybe one of the 10 commandments about observing the Sabbath?  Yeah, Shabbat is, like, a super big deal.  Even though it’s every week, Shabbat is actually tied (depending on who you ask) for the holiest day(s) of the year.  Read more…

Major Holidays

Some of our most important holidays are observed in a similar way to Shabbat, but each commemorate a different story, occasion, miracle, or something of the like.  Each holiday has a central theme, usually accompanied by huge awesome meals (except for Yom Kippur, which is a fast day).  Read more…

Minor Holidays

Some holidays don’t have the status of a major Jewish holiday, but they’re still fun and comprise an important part of Jewish life.  Read more…