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All Jewish religious observances, including the Sabbath, begin on the evening before the date indicated on conventional calendars and conclude on a subsequent evening.
There is wide variation of religious practice among Jews; therefore, some students and school staff members will be absent for religious purposes more than others. The dates of Jewish religious observances will be different each year. Because the Jewish calendar is a lunar/solar calendar, the dates of these holy days will vary from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. There is a variety of spellings in the English language for Jewish holy days because they are transliterated from Hebrew.
The Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) is observed from Friday sundown until Saturday nightfall each week. It is considered the most important Jewish ritual observance and is the only one mentioned in the Ten Commandments. Families gather together for Shabbat dinner on Friday nights, saying special blessings over the lighting of candles, over special bread called challah, and over wine. They attend synagogue and spend the day studying, visiting with friends, and refraining from performing their weekday work. The Sabbath is concluded at nightfall Saturday with a ceremony called Havdallah. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer during Shabbat.
The Jewish New Year marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance which conclude on Yom Kippur. During this time Jews reflect on their actions during the past year, seek forgiveness from those they may have offended and contemplate how they can improve in the year to come. Rosh Hashanah is characterized by the blowing of a ram's horn ( shofar). It is customary to eat apples and honey on these days as a symbol of a wish for a sweet new year. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on Rosh Hashanah.
The Day of Atonement is the most solemn of Holy Days in the Jewish calendar. It is devoted to fasting and prayer as Jews strive to reaffirm their faith so it may be a guiding force in their daily lives and a reminder to engage in the pursuit of justice, acts of kindness for others, and study. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on Yom Kippur.
In ancient Israel, Jews were expected to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to observe the festival and worship in the Temple. These three holidays remain especially important. Jewish families attend synagogue and observe in their homes as well during these times.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the fall harvest festival, deriving its name from the temporary booths, or dwellings used by ancient Israelites while they were living in the desert after the exodus from Egypt (see next entry). Typically, Jews construct a temporary structure ( sukkah) in which they eat and, if possible, sleep throughout the festival. The sukkah is decorated with fruits and vegetables and covered with leaves and vines. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on the first two and last two days of Sukkot.
The Festival of Freedom celebrates the deliverance of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Families join together in a festive ritual meal ( seder) that features the retelling of the struggle of the Jewish people to gain their freedom. Because they had to flee, there was not time for the bread they were preparing to rise and they took the unleavened bread in their escape. Jews, therefore, eat only unleavened bread, or matzah, during the week of Passover. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on the first two or last two days of Passover.
The Festival of Weeks observes the Giving of the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It commemorates ancient Israel's acceptance of the Torah and its obligations. Young children are often given small replicas of the Torah scroll at this time to symbolize the beginning of their journey of learning about their religion, Judaism. Dairy food is customarily eaten at this time. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on Shavuot.
Based on the Biblical Book of Esther, Purim celebrates the foiling of a plot to kill the Jews in ancient Persia. It is a gala occasion during which the Book of Esther is read aloud in the synagogue accompanied by appropriate cheers and boos from the congregation who come dressed in costume for the occasion. Giving gifts of food to friends and donations to charity are also customary.
The Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem by Judah Maccabee in 165 B.C.E. It is observed in Jewish homes by lighting candles for eight nights, beginning with one candle and adding a candle each night until all are ablaze in the special candelabra called a menorah or chanukiah. While a popular celebration, Chanukah is considered a minor holiday from a religious perspective.
The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is read publicly throughout the year in the synagogue. The portions are read according to a schedule. Simchat Torah is joyfully celebrated when the last portion of Deuteronomy is read. This is immediately followed by reading the first portion of Genesis. Thus, the cycle never ends. When the reading is completed, the celebration includes carrying the Torah scrolls around the synagogue accompanied by joyous singing and dancing. Traditionally observant Jews do not work, attend school, answer the telephone, drive, or use the computer on Simchat Torah.
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