Jewish Holidays

Shabbat

Sabbath

Shabbat observance begins at
sundown each Friday evening with
lighting candles at home and a
synagogue service called Kabbalat
Shabbat. Friday night home observances
also include a festive dinner that begins
by reciting the Kiddush, the prayer over
the wine, and Hamotzi, the prayer over
the challa. Saturday observances include
services, a festive luncheon and an
afternoon of rest. A light third meal,
called seuda shilishit, also is traditional.
The Sabbath ends on Saturday night
with Havdala.
Spices, a special braided candle
and wine are used to say good-bye to
Shabbat.

Rosh Chodesh

First Day of the New Month

Literally, Rosh Chodesh means "the
head of the month." It is noted by
reciting special prayers during the
regular Shabbat services, including

"Haller a series of psalms.
Tradition tells us that because
women did not participate in the sin
of the Golden Calf in the wilderness,
they were given Rosh Chodesh as a
gift. Women's study sessions and
prayer groups often meet on Rosh
Chodesh for this reason.

Rosh HaShana

Sukkot

Yam Kippur

Jewish New Year

Day of Atonement

Rosh HaShana begins a 10-day
period of repentance that lasts through
Yom Kippur.
The shofar, a ram's horn, is blown
during services. Home observances
include festive meals with traditional
foods, such as round challahs and apples
dipped in honey, symbolizing wholeness
and sweetness for the new year. New
Year's greeting cards often are sent to
friends and family. On the first day of
Rosh HaShana, it is traditional to drop
bread crumbs into a river or pond as
symbols of "casting away our sins." This
ceremony is called Tashlich. 1-2 Tishrei.

The most solemn day of the year,
Yom Kippur is marked by fasting,
prayer, and teshuva or repentance as
Jews reflect on their relationships with
other people and with God. Prior to
sunset on the evening before Yom
Kippur, families eat a pre-fasting meal,
candles are lit and everyone goes to
services for Kol Nidrei. Yom Kippur
services continue throughout the next
day and conclude that evening at
nightfall, after the recitation of the
Neila service and a final blast of the
shofar. 10 Tishrei.

Sukkot

Feast of Tabernacles

Passover Food Distribution

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Sukkot means booths, and during
this holiday we build temporary booths
in which we eat meals. "Do-it-
yourself" sukka kits are available from
Jewish bookstores. It is customary to
decorate the sukka with Rosh HaShana
cards, drawings, posters and strands
of fruit. Another mitzva or
commandment is to shake the lulav, a
palm branch with myrtle and willow
branches attached, and hold an etrog,
a lemon-like Israeli fruit, and recite a
special blessing. Lulavim and etrogim
can be ordered in advance at many
synagogues, temples and day schools

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