Hanukkah: Hanukkah is the Jewish Christmas. Hanukkah is the protection of the Israelites by God. They celebrate by getting a Menorah. It is a candle with nine candles. Every night they light one candle. Starting Dec. 6th to Dec 14th in 2015.
Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year. (means ‘head of the year’) It remembers the creation of the world. (see “Creation Story” for more info) This year it is September 13th to September 15th.
Yom Kippur: Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement.”Or the day the Jewish god rose from the dead. It is one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. It is the moment when they dedicate their mind, body and soul to God. This year it is September 22nd to September 23rd. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish holidays will refrain from work, fast and/or attend a synagogue services on this day.
Passover (Pesach): Passover is a major spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. It is a 7 day long festival. This year it is April 3rd to April 11. The holiday starts on the 15th of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance. Before Passover, people clean their houses down to the bricks. This is called chametz. The proses before Passover is huge.
Shavuot: Shavuot is the Hebrew word for weeks. This festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. This is an agricultural festival selling different goods. Did you know that in ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem?
Yom Hashoah: Yom Hashoah is a day when the Jews remember the holocaust by lighting candles for the holocaust victims. It's name comes from the jewish word “shoah” for “whirlwind”. It begins on the morning of the 15th of April and ends on the evening of April 16th