and also are available from Jewish
bookstores. "Sukka hopping," inviting
friends over and visiting their sukka to
share a meal or a snack, is a fun custom.
15-21 Tishrei.

include giving children small gifts of
money called gelt, playing dreidel,
singing Chanuka songs and eating fried
foods like potato latkes that recall the
miracle of the oil. 25 Kislev-2 Tevet.

Shemini Atzeret

Tu b'Shevat

Eighth Day of Assembly

Jewish Arbor Day

Immediately follows Hoshana
Rabba. The prayer for rain is recited in
services because this holiday marks the
beginning of the rainy season in Israel.
Yizkor, the memorial prayer for the
dead, also is recited. 22 Tishrei.

This holiday is the New Year of the
Trees and is marked by contributing to
the Jewish National Fund to have trees
planted in Israel.
It also is customary to eat foods and
fruits from the land of Israel. Some people
also attend a Tu b'Shevat seder. It is
organized much like a Passover seder,
including four cups of wine, but starts
with white wine, representing winter, with
red added to each subsequent cup as a sign
of the coming spring. 15 Shevat.

&I/what Torah

Rejoicing in the Torah

The day after Shemini Atzeret, we
complete the annual cycle of Torah
reading and begin anew. Both in the
evening and morning services, the
Torahs are taken out of the ark and
joyously paraded around the sanctuary
seven times with much dancing and
singing. Children are encouraged
to participate, and flags and apples are
traditional treats for them. 23 Tishrei.

Purim

Feast of Lots

Purim marks the victory of Esther
and Mordecai over Haman in ancient
Persia. It is traditional for all to wear
costumes on Purim. Four mitzvot or
commandments are associated with
Purim: Read or hear Megillat Esther,
the Book of Esther; send shalach
manot, gifts of food to friends; send
matanot le'evyonim, gifts of food or
money to the poor; enjoy a se'uda
mitzva or feast. Because Haman is
associated with Amalek, and we are
told in the Bible to blot out Amalek's
name, we use noise-makers to
blot out Haman's name during
the Megillat Esther reading. Purim
is preceded by Ta'anit Esther, the Fast
of Esther, which recalls the fast that

Chanuka

Festival of Lights

Chanuka is an eight-day festival
celebrating the victory of the Maccabees
over the Hellenized Assyrians, who had
outlawed Jewish practices.
While cleaning the
desecrated Temple, the
Maccabees found a
small jar of oil. Although
it contained enough oil
to last only one day, it
miraculously lasted
eight. To commemorate
these events, we light a
special eight-branched
menora or candelabra,
called a chanukia.
customs
Chanuka

Chanuka

Esther asked the Jews to observe as
they prayed for her safety. 14 Adar.

Pesach

Passover

Pesach is an eight-day celebration
of the exodus from Egypt. We remove

Tu b'Shevat

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