Jewish Holidays

Rosh HaShana: Rosh HaShana is the Jewish New Year. During the Hebrew month of Elul, which leads up to the Jewish New Year, Selichot Prayers are recited.

Yom Kippur: Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Sukkot and Simchat Torah: Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a pilgrimage and harvest festival during which Jews remember the exodus from Egypt. On Simchat Torah, Jews celebrate their love of Torah with joyful singing and dancing.

Hanukkah: Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees military victory over the Greek Syrians and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Tu B'Shvat: Tu B'Shvat is the Jewish New Year for trees.

Purim: On Purim Jews celebrate how Queen Esther saved the Jews of Persia from annihilation.

Passover: Passover (Pesach) celebrates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and the birth of the Jewish nation.

Israeli Holidays: Israel's Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) are observed between Passover and Shavuot.

Shavuot: After Passover, Jews observe a period of mourning called Sefirat HaOmer (Counting the Omer). The Jewish semi-holiday of Lag B'Omer is observed as a break in this period of mourning. Then Shavuot celebrates the harvest and commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Jewish People on Mount Sinai.

Tisha B'Av: Tisha B'Av is a day of mourning and fasting. The Three Weeks (Shloshet HaShavuot) and Nine Days (Tishat HaYamim) are mourning periods that lead up to Tisha B'Av.