Religious Life Jewish Holidays continued from page 27 Make Farmer Jack Your "Holiday Savings Time" Headquarters • Kosher Meats & Seafood •Dairy & Fish Trays •Fresh Produce & Baked Goods •Trusted Brands ALL KOSHER MEAT IS SUPERVISED BY THE COUNCIL OF ORTHODOX RABBIS ONLY AT *SOUTHFIELD Southfield at 121/2 Mile MEAT 248-559-4717 •WEST BLOOMFIELD Orchard Lake at Maple MEAT 248-851-4175 FULLY SUPERVISED MASHGIACH •OAK PARK 10 Mile at Coolidge SEAFOOD MEAT 248-542-1900 248-542-4178 28 • 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.