Religious Life
Jewish Holidays continued from page 27
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SOURCEBOOK 2000 • JN
YOM HASHOAH
Holocaust Memorial Day
YOM YERUSHALAYIM
The State of Israel declared Yom HaShoah
(Nisan 27) as a day to remember the vic-
tims of the Holocaust.
Many communities organize memorial
services and say Kaddish, the memorial
prayer for the dead. At home, Jews may
light a yellow yahrtzeit candle, which burns
for 24 hours. The candles are available
through local synagogues and temples and
remind us of the infamous yellow stars
Jews were forced to wear during the
Holocaust.
Yom Yerushalayim was established to
commemorate the Israeli reunification of
Jerusalem during the Six-Day War of
1967 (Iyar 28).
The morning service begins with the
p'sukay dzimra, preliminary prayers of
Shabbat and holidays, and Hallel (joyful
psalms) are recited. A festive meal is
held, accompanied with many songs
about or mentioning Jerusalem.
YOM HAZIKARON
Martyrs and Heroes Memorial Day
Those who have died for Israel are remem-
bered at services held on Yom HaZikaron
(Iyar 4). This holiday is observed the day
before Israel Independence Day.
YOM HAATZMAUT
Israel Independence Day
On Yom HaAtzmaut (Iyar 5), we cele-
brate the anniversary of May 14, 1948,
the day Israel was declared an independ-
ent state.
Commemorations may include
parades, community gatherings, festive
meals and special prayer services. Detroit
has held a community-wide "Walk for
Israel" some years.
I
M F, P,
33rd Day Of Counting The Omer
The festival of Lag b'Omer (Iyar 18) occurs
during the omer period, a time of mourn-
ing when observant Jews refrain from wed-
dings, haircuts and other pleasures.
The omer period recalls a number of
tragedies for the Jewish people. One is
when the students of Rabbi Akiva died
of a plague in the second century C.E.; it
is said to have stopped on this 33rd day
the 50
of the counting of the omer
days of the harvest season between
Passover and Shavuot.
Lag b'Omer is a joyous day in this
solemn period when the omer restric-
tions are lifted. Activities may include
picnics and outings to parks.
—
Jerusalem Day
SHAVUO
Festival Of Weeks
Shavuot (Sivan 6-7), which celebrates
God's revelation of the Torah on Mount
Sinai, is a two-day festival that falls at
the end of the omer period.
It is traditional to decorate the syna-
gogue or temple with flowers for
Shavuot. Dairy foods are traditionally
eaten because the Torah is likened to
"milk and honey. "
Tikun Leil Shavuot, a night of study, is
another tradition. The object is to stay
up all night, or as late as possible, and
study Jewish texts.
SHA BtAV
The Ninth Of Av
On Tisha B'Av (Av 9), Jews fast until
sundown to mourn the destruction of
the first and second Temples in
Jerusalem.
Tisha B'Av is marked by reading
Eicha, the Book of Lamentations.
FAST DAY OF 17 TAMUZ
The 17th of Tamuz
This minor fast day (Tamuz 17) marks
the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem
during the period of the First Temple.
Ruth Bergman, a Jewish educator,
wrote this section, with additions by
JN copy editor Esther Tschirhart.