Jewish bookstores or can be ordered. It is
customary to decorate a sukkah with Rosh
Hashanah cards, drawings, posters and
strands of fruit.
Another mitzvah, or commandment, of
Sukkot is to shake the lulav, a palm branch
with myrtle and willow branches attached,
and hold an etrog, a lemon-like Israeli fruit,
while reciting a special blessing. Lulavim and
etrogim can be ordered in advance at many
synagogues, temples and day schools, and
also are available at Jewish bookstores.
A fun custom is "sukkah hopping," invit-
ing friends over and visiting their sukkah to
share a meal or snack.
The intermediate days are called Chol
HaMoed, when one may go to work and
engage in other weekday activities.
Sept. 30, 2004
SHEMINI ATZERET/
Eighth Day Of Assembly
Shemini Atzeret (Tishrei 22) immediately fol-
lows HoShanah Rabbah on the seventh day
of Sukkot, which is the final day of judg-
ment (Tishrei 21).
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 said at this time. Oct. 7, 2004
SIMCHAT TORAH/
Rejoicing In The Torah
Simchat Torah (Tishrei 23), the day after
Shemini Atzeret, is when we complete the
annual cycle of Torah reading and begin
anew.
Both at evening and morning services,
each Torah is taken out of the congrega-
tion's Ark and joyously paraded around the
sanctuary seven times, accompanied by
much dancing and singing. Children are
encouraged to participate, and flags and
apples are traditional treats for them.
Oct. 8, 2004
CHANUKAH/Festival Of Lights
Chanukah is an eight-day festival (Kislev 25-
Tevet 2) that celebrates the victory of the
Maccabees over the Hellenized Assyrians
(influenced by the Greeks), who had out-
lawed 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 spe-
cial eight-branched menorah or candelabra,
called a chanukiah.
Chanukah customs include giving children
small gifts of money called gelt, playing
dreidel (a four-sided top), singing Chanukah
songs and eating fried foods like potato
latkes (pancakes), which recall the miracle of
the oil. Dec. 8, 2004
THE 10TH OF TEVET/A Minor Fast Day
This minor fast day (Tevet 10) recalls
Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem. Rabbis
also use this day to commemorate those
who died in the Holocaust and whose
yahrtzeits are not known. Dec. 22, 2004
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, represent-
ing winter, with red added to each subsequent
cup as a sign of the coming spring. Jan. 25,
2005
PURIM/Feast Of Lots
Purim (Adar 14) marks the victory of Queen
Esther and her relative Mordechai over the
evil Haman, adviser to King Ahasuerus in
ancient Persia. It is traditional to wear cos-
tumes on Purim.
Four mitzvot, commandments, are associat-
ed with Purim: read or listen to Megilat
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 seuda mitzvah, or feast.
Because Haman is associated with
Amalek, an enemy of the Jewish people,
and we are told in the Bible to blot out
Amalek's name, noisemakers are used
enthusiastically to drown out Haman's name
when it is said during the Megillah reading.
Purim is preceded by Ta'anat Esther (Adar
13), the Fast of Esther, which was instituted
in honor of this heroine who fasted as she
prayed for the Jewish people to be saved
even as Haman was plotting their destruc-
tion. March 25, 2005
TU B'SHEVAT/Jewish Arbor Day
This holiday (Shevat 15) is the New Year of
the Trees and often marked by contributing
JEWISH HOLIDAYS on page 26
ENGAGING MINDS
My name is Adam Horowitz.
WISH
etropolitan Detroit
When I first came to JAMD, people asked me whether or not I thought that going to this school
would hinder me from getting into good universities. Well, five years later and as a sophomore at
Emory University I can confidently say that it was JAMD, in fact, that helped me get into some of the
country's most competitive schools. At JAMD I received a top-notch education that allowed me to
tweak my intellectual capabilities. Colleges were impressed by my ability to succeed in a courseload
that included both secular and Judaic studies. Also, the college counseling that JAMD provided
throughout my junior and senior years was vital to my acceptance at such schools as Emory, Univer-
sity of Michigan Honors Program, and Northwestern University, among others. My time at JAMD has
inspired me to continue taking Jewish Studies classes. I truly believe that my years at JAMD have
enhanced my college experience and I am fortunate to have been a JAMD student.
Applications for the fall
2005-2006 school year are
now being accepted. Tuition
assistance and a variety of
payment plans are available.
For more information
contact Head of School,
Rabbi Lee Buckman at:
(248) 592-JAMD (5263)
or visit our website at:
WWW.jamd.org
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
N DI TINCInsrr SC:FIC)01.S
WERE PART OF THE TEAM
2004-2005 Community Directory ■
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