Jewish Holidays

In the Bible Miriam is the older sister of Moses. She is also a prophetess who plays an important role in the Israelite exodus from Egypt.

The Passover seder incorporates a variety of symbolic items, among them, Elijah's Cup and Miriam's Cup. Learn more about these two vessels, each of which is based upon a biblical character.

King Ahasuerus, Mordecai and Haman all play significant roles in the Purim story. Learn more about each of these characters in this article.

Mishloach manot are gifts of food that Jews send to one another during the holiday of Purim. Learn more about what goes in these gift baskets and how to make your own mishloach manot in this article.

Two women play an important role in the story of Purim, a holiday that celebrates how Jews narrowly escaped tragedy in the biblical book of Esther. Learn more about Vashti and Esther in this article.

From observing the Fast of Esther to eating hamantaschen cookies, food plays an important role in the Jewish holiday of Purim. Learn more about Purim food customs in this article.

Holidays give us a wonderful opportunity share Jewish traditions and stories with our children. Here are some ideas for ways you can celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah with your family.

With adorable illustrations and inviting text, these four Hanukkah books are great picks for toddlers and young children alike.

Instructions for lighting the menorah during the holiday of Hanukkah including blessings and a list of materials you will need.

One of the most important Hanukkah rituals involves lighting the Hanukkah menorah. Learn more about this practice and about the blessings that are said in this article.

Maoz Tzur is a traditional Hanukkah song that is usually sung to the tune of an old German folk melody.

Singing is a wonderful way to celebrate any holiday and Hanukkah is no exception. Here are eight popular Hanukkah songs with lyrics, translations and even the melodies.

Lyrics to all three versions of Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song, which was first performed on Saturday Night Live in 1994.

In 2011 Hanukkah begins on December 20th and ends on December 28th.

In 2011 Sukkot begins at Sundown on October 12th(Wednesday) and ends at sundown on October 19th (Wednesday).

One of the most popular and well-known food customs on Rosh HaShanah has to do with dipping apple slices into honey. This sweet combination stems from an age-old Jewish tradition of eating sweet foods to express our hope for a sweet new year.

There are many holidays that make up the Jewish calendar. Learn more about these special days by exploring the articles on this page.

A popular Jewish custom on Shavuot is to eat dairy products. Where did this tradition come from?

Shavuot begins at sundown on May 19th, 2010 (Wed). It ends at sundown on May 20th, 2010 (Thursday).

Lag Ba'Omer begins at sundown on May 1st, 2010 (Saturday). It ends at sundown on May 2nd, 2010 (Sunday).

Lag Ba'Omer is a minor Jewish holiday that falls between Passover and Shavuot.

Passover is a holiday full of ritual symbols that retell the Exodus story. Many of these symbols are displayed on the seder plate, which is the centerpiece of the seder table.

Learn how to make a Sephardic version of charoset, made with dried fruits and wine.

An explanation as to why Passover is observed for different numbers of days in Israel and in the Diaspora.

Mishloach manot are gifts of food that Jews send to each other during the holiday of Purim.

Hamentaschen are triangular-shaped pastries that are traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim.

Pesach begins at sundown on March 29th, 2010 (Monday). It ends at sundown on April 6th, 2010 (Tuesday).

Purim begins at sundown on February, 27th 2010 (Saturday). It ends at sundown on February, 28th 2010 (Sunday).

Tu B'Shvat begins at sundown on January 29th, 2010 (Friday). It ends at sundown on January 30th, 2010 (Saturday).

Yom Kippur begins at sundown on September 17th, 2010 (Friday). It ends at sundown on September 18th, 2010 (Saturday).

Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown on September 8th, 2010 (Wednesday). It ends at sundown on September 10th, 2010 (Friday).

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. It starts on the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, which coincides with late November-late December on the secular calendar. In Hebrew, the word “hanukkah” means “dedication.”

A chanukkiyah is a candelabrum with eight candleholders (branches) in a row and a ninth candleholder set a little above the others. It is different from a menorah, which has seven branches and was used in the Temple before it was destroyed in 70 C.E.

A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is used during Chanukkah to play a popular children’s game.

Simchat Torah marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and is one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths, is a Jewish harvest holiday that falls five days after Yom Kippur.

One of Sukkot's special mitzvot is to recite blessings over the Four Kinds. Learn how to wave a lulav and etrog in order to fulfill this mitzvah.

Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year. It falls once a year during the month of Tishrei and occurs ten days before Yom Kippur. Together, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are known as Yamim Nora’im, which means the Days of Awe in Hebrew. In English they are often referred to as the High Holy Days.

The shofar is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, though it can also be made from the horn of a sheep or goat. It makes a trumpet-like sound and is traditionally blown on Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year.

Tashlich is a ritual that traditionally takes place on the first day of Rosh HaShanah.

Tisha B'Av is a Jewish day of mourning - and a fast day - that commemorates the destruction of the two Temples.

Learn about the origins of Shavuot as well as modern day customs for celebrating this holiday.

Learn what it means to count the Omer and how this tradition is based on an ancient Jewish custom.

In introduction to Yom Kippur, one of the Jewish High Holy Days.

An introduction to the ancient holiday of Tu B'Shvat, which is the Jewish New Year for the Trees.

Every year, on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan, Jews worldwide commemorate the birth of the Jewish nation by celebrating Passover.

Tisha B’Av, also known as "The Ninth of Av," is a fast day that commemorates the destruction of the two Temples. It also happens to be the day that many other calamities have befallen the Jewish people, some of which are listed in this article.

What are the Jewish High Holidays, or Judaism's High Holy Days? Are the Days of Awe and Ten Days of Repentance the same? Are Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur part of Yamim Noraim?

What are the correct ways for a non-Jewish (or Jewish) person to respectfully convey warm wishes to Jewish friends on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year. Over the centuries it has become associated with many food customs. Learn more about them in this article.

Tips on how to prepare for the Yom Kippur (or any) fast.

There's a lot to know about Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. But if a crash course is what you're after, here are the 8 most important things you should know about Rosh HaShanah.

The most important Rosh HaShanah words and terms for you to know.

Kol Nidrei is both the opening prayer and the name for the evening service that begins Yom Kippur.

Have you ever wondered why the etrog is always held in the left hand when performing the Sukkot blessings?

Sukkot, also known as the Festival of Booths, is a Jewish harvest holiday that falls five days after Yom Kippur.

Like many Jewish holidays, Hanukkah has accompanying food traditions. Fried foods such as "sufganiyot" (jelly-filled doughnuts) and "latkes" (potato pancakes) are especially popular, as are dairy foods.

How does your family celebrate Hanukkah? Share your Hanukkah traditions here.See submissions

This calendar contains the 2010-2011 Gregorian calendar dates for all Jewish and Israeli holidays, festivals and days of mourning.

Hanukkah gelt refers to either money given as a gift on Hanukkah, or more commonly today, to a coin shaped piece of chocolate.

When is Hanukkah in 2010?

The Seven Species are the seven agricultural products associated with the ancient land of Israel as mentioned in the Torah.

Purim begins at sundown on March 19th, 2011 (Saturday). It ends at sundown on March 20th, 2011 (Sunday).

Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies in the biblical Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar. Purim is so-called because the villain of the story, Haman, cast the "pur" (the lot) against the Jews yet failed to destroy them.

Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from their enemies in the biblical Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated on the fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Adar, which usually falls sometime in February or March.

In the biblical Book of Esther, Vashti is the wife of King Ahasuerus, the ruler of Persia.

In 2011 Passover begins in the diaspora at sundown on April 18, 2011 (Monday). It ends at sundown on April 26, 2011 (Tuesday). In Israel, Passover begins at sundown on April 18, 2011 (Monday) and ends at sundown on April 25, 2011 (Monday).

A Passover seder is a service held at home as part of the Passover celebration. It is always observed on the first night of Passover, and in some homes on the second night as well. On both nights, the seder concludes with a dinner.

The Passover story is recounted in the biblical book of Exodus. It begins with the enslavement of the Hebrews and ends with their freedom from bondage.

Observing Passover requires a certain amount of knowledge when it comes to kosher do's and don'ts. In addition to eating matzah during your seder, Jews are prohibited from eating leavened bread during the entire week of Passover. A number of specific foods are also off limits.

The Four Questions are an important part of the that highlight the ways in which Passover customs and foods distinguish the holiday from other times of the year. Although they are called "The Four Questions," really this part of the seder is one question with four answers.

In 2011 Shavuot begins at sundown on June 7, 2011 (Tuesday). It ends at sundown on June 9, 2011 (Thursday).

This calendar contains the 2011-2012 Gregorian calendar dates for all Jewish and Israeli holidays, festivals and days of mourning.

Tisha B'Av begins at sundown on August 8, 2011 (Monday). It ends at sundown on August 9, 2011 (Tuesday).

Rosh HaShanah begins at sundown on September 28, 2011 (Wednesday). It ends at sundown on September 30, 2011 (Friday).

Yom Kippur begins at sundown on October 7th (Friday) and ends at Sundown on October 8th (Saturday).

Learn how to say "Happy New Year" to your Jewish friends during Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year.

The shofar is blown one hundred times on each of the two days of Rosh HaShanah. There are four specific shofar blasts associated with this holiday.

Kaparot (also known as Kaparos) is an ancient Jewish folk custom that is still performed by some (though not most) Jews today. The tradition is connected to the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, and involves whirling a chicken above one's head while reciting a prayer. The folk belief is that an individual's sins will be transferred to the...

One of the most important commandments associated with the celebration of Sukkot involves dwelling and eating in a sukkah. This article gives a brief overview of the requirements a structure must meet in order to be considered a sukkah according to Jewish law.