JEWISH HOLIDAYS from page 45
PESACH/Passover
Pesach (Nisan 15-22) is a celebration of our
people's exodus from Egypt. Prior to the
festival, we remove all chametz (leavening)
from our homes. We will eat only unleav-
ened bread called matzah for eight days.
On the first and second nights of Pesach,
we have a seder, a festive meal at which
we recount the exodus. A number of ritual
items are included on a seder plate.
The first two and last two days of Pesach
are similar to Shabbat in their observance.
Generally, one refrains from work and other
weekday activities and attends services.
Yizkor, the memorial prayer for the dead, is
recited on the final day of Passover.
The intermediate days are called chol
haMoed, when no bread or other foods
with leavening may be eaten, but one may
go to work and engage in other weekday
activities. April 6, 2004
YOM HASHOAH/Holocaust Memorial Day
The State of Israel declared Yom HaShoah
(Nisan 27) as a day to remember the
victims 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 yel-
low stars Jews were forced to wear during
the Holocaust. April 19, 2004
YOM HAZIKARON/
Martyrs and Heroes Memorial Day
Those who have died for Israel are remem-
bered at services held on Yom HaZikaron (lyar
4). This holiday is observed the day before
Israel Independence Day. April 25, 2004
YOM HAATZMAUT/Israellndependence Day
On Yom HaAtzmaut (lyar 5), we celebrate
the anniversary of May 14, 1948, the day
Israel was declared an independent state.
Commemorations may include parades,
community gatherings, festive meals and
special prayer services. Detroit has held a
community-wide "Walk for Israel" some
years. April 26, 2004
LAG B'OMER/33rd Day Of Counting The Omer
The festival of Lag b'Omer (lyar 18) occurs
during the omer period, a time of mourning
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 of the
counting of the omer — the 50 days of the
harvest season between Passover and -
Shavuot.
Lag b'Omer is a joyous day in this
solemn period when the omer restrictions
are lifted. Activities may include picnics and
outings to parks. May 9, 2004
YOM YERUSHALAYIM/Jerusa/em Day
Yom Yerushalayim was established to com-
memorate the Israeli reunification of
Jerusalem during the Six-Day War of 1967
(lyar 28).
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The morning service begins with the
p'sukay d'zimra, 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.
May 19, 2004
SHAVUOT/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 synagogue
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. May 26, 2004
TISHA B' AV/The Ninth Of Av
On Tisha B'Av (Av 9), Jews fast until sun-
down to mourn the destruction of the first
and second Temples in Jerusalem.
Tisha B'Av is marked by reading Eicha,
the Book of Lamentations. July 27, 2004
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.
July 6, 2004
Ruth Bergman, a Jewish educator, wrote
this section, with additions by former JN copy
editor Esther Tschirhart.
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