by David Sedley

Created on: January 01, 2007   Last Updated: May 21, 2010

This article discusses the Jewish calendar and lists all of the festivals, with a brief description of each one:

Firstly - the Jewish calendar. The calendar is based upon the cycles of the moon. Each new month begins when the new moon appears. However, in order to keep the festivals in line with the appropriate season there are also 'leap years' which contain an extra month. 'Leap years' occur 7 times out of every 19 years.

In a normal year there are 12 months (and in a leap year the last month 'Adar' is doubled - i.e. Adar 1 and Adar 2).

Even though the first month is Nisan, the Jewish year begins with the seventh month which is called Tishrei (I'll have to write another article about the names of the months, their origins and their meanings, but not right now).

Tishrei is usually some time around September or October. The first day of Tishrei (and the second) is called 'Rosh Hashana' which means 'New Year'. This is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and is the day of judgment for all the people in the world. Special mitzvah of the day - blowing the shofar.

The Fast of Gedaliah is on the 3rd of Tishrei. Historically it is the last of the fast days. It commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah ben Achikam who was the last governor of Israel after the destruction of the Second Temple.

On the 10th of Tishrei we have Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement. This is the anniversary of the day that the Jewish people were forgiven for the sin of the Golden Calf and Moshe came back down Mount Sinai with the second set of tablets (ten commandments). It is the annual day for forgiveness and atonement. Any sins which we repent (and make amends for any wrongdoing to our fellow man) are forgiven on this day. It is a 24 hour fast, from sunset to sunset. There are also 4 other prohibited activities on this day, in addition to all of the restrictions of Shabat. Special mitzvot of the day - fasting, prayer, charity and repentance.

The 15th of Tishrei is Succot. This is an 8-day festival (9 days outside of Israel) which commemorates the Clouds of Glory that protected the Israelites when they wandered in the desert. Jews leave their homes for the week and live in temporary huts which have a roof made of branches. Mitzvot of the week - living in the Succah, shaking the Lulav and Etrog.

The last day of Succot (or last 2 days outside of Israel) is called Shmini Atzeret (and Simchat Torah). This is a special day with no extra mitzvot, just a chance to be happy. It

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>