Jewish Feasts Explained

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah, (Tishri 1, September 18/19 in 2001, September 7/8 in 2002, and September 27/28 in 2003) the Jewish New Year, is celebrated the first and second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings, special meals and sweet tasting foods. Rosh Hashanah, which means the head of the year or New Year is traditionally celebrated on both the first and second days of the Hebrew month of Tishre (September-October on the Julian calendar). The primary purpose for observing Rosh Hashanah is that it marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Penitence, the time when Jews ask God for forgiveness for their sins. In addition, Rosh Hashanah has also traditionally been regarded as the first day of creation. Unlike the Feasts in Spring the Autumn feasts have yet to have any fullment by Messiah. Some Christians beleive that this feast foreshadows the New Heaven and New Earth followed by a great feast lasting over a week.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur,(Tishri 10, September 27 in 2001, September 16 in 2002, and October 6 in 2003) the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers. Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement is observed on the tenth day of Tishre (September-October) and represents a culmination of the Ten Days of Penitence which begins on Rosh Hashanah. The most solemn and important holiday in the Jewish year, Yom Kippur is characterized by fasting and prayer. While other holidays are often ignored by many secular Jews, Yom Kippur is typically observed even by the less-religious. Some Christians believe that this foreshadows the "Great and Terrible Day of the L-rd" when G-d judges the earth.

Sukkot

(Tishri 15, October 2 to 8 in 2001, September 21 to 27 in 2002, and October 11 to 17 in 2003) the festival of booths (huts) or the Harvest festival; it is a time for thanksgiving. Sukkot begins five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for eight days. The Harvest festival is an opportunity for people to thank God for a good crop and pray for a fruitful harvest next year. During Sukkot Jewish people eat outside in a special hut or booth called a sukkah. In fact, some by strictly observant Jews live in their sukkah's for the duration of Sukkot. The sukkahs are replicas of the simple huts the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert. The sukkah was also used by farmers who during the harvest time in Israel would work in their fields all day and then slept beside them in a sukkah. Some Christians think this is a foreshadowing of a time when the people of Israel will have to flee to the dessert and G-d has His "harvest" where he finds the faithful of Israel.

Shemini Atzeret

Shemini Atzeret (Tishri 22, October 9 in 2001, September 28 in 2002, and October 18 in 2003) literally means "the assembly of the eighth (day)." Rabbinical literature explains the holiday this way: G-d is like a host, who invites us as visitors for a limited time, but when the time comes for us to leave, He has enjoyed himself so much that He asks us to stay another day. Some Christians hold to the idea that this symbolizes the Jews staying after Messiah has come for the Church".

Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, (Tishri 23, October 9 for Israel / October 10 for US in 2001, October 28 for Israel / October 29 for US in 2002, and October 18 for Israel / October 19 for US in 2003) which means the rejoicing of the Torah, is held on the twenty third of Tishre (the second day of Shemini Azeret) and celebrates the annual completion of the Torah cycle. On this day, the final Torah portion is read (Deuteronomy 33-34) and the Torah cycle is immediately re-started with the reading of the Book of Genesis. While Simchat Torah was not recognized as a distinct holiday during the Talmudic period, the annual reading of the Torah was still completed on the twenty third of Tishri.

Chanukah

Chanukah, (Kislev 25, December 10 to 17 in 2001, November 30 to December 7 in 2002 and December 20 to 27 in 2003) an eight-day holiday which begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (November-December), is observed in order to commemorate the re-dedication of the Temple in 165 BCE. It not one of the Feasts of Moses but mentioned in the gospels. The Temple doesn't hold the same signifigance for Christians. Even though not technically the date for the Birth of Christ (Messiah), Christians celebrate Christmas about this time with lots of gift giving and feasting also.

Passover

Passover (Nisan 15, March 28 to April 4 in 2002, April 17 to 24 in 2003, and April 6 to 13 in 2004) is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. Passover or Pesah, an eight day holiday (seven days in Israel) which begins on the 15th of Nissan, is observed in commemoration of the Jews redemption from slavery and subsequent exodus from Egypt in the thirteenth century BCE. While Passover (so-called because God is said to have "passed over" the homes of Jews the evening before delivering them from slavery) spans over an eight day period, only the first two and last two days are full-holidays. The middle four days are referred to hol ha-Moed or "secular days of the holiday" since Jews are permitted to work on these day. Jesus had Passover with his disciples the last of which is called The Last Supper.Christians celebrate this as Easter. With Jesus as the Lamb of G-d they believed judgement will passover them also.

Shavuot

Shavuot, the Feast of the Weeks,( Sivan 6, May 17 for Israel / May 17 /18 for US in 2002, June 6 for Israel / June 6/7 for US in 2003, May 26 for Israel / May 26/27 for US in 2004) is the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel. Shavuot, which means "weeks", refers to the timing of the festival which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover. Shavuot also commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Shavuot (weeks), also known as Pentecost (the 50th day), is held at the end of 49 day (7 week) period of Omer. Among Orthodox and Conservative Jews Shavuot is a two day holiday which is observed on the 6th and 7th days of Sivan (May-June). Israelis and Reform Jews. Christians recall that the Church began on this day 50 days after Jesus was crucified, died, was burried and resurected in Jerusalem during a Passover when Roman was in occupational rule of Israel.

Shabbat

Shabbat is the beloved day of rest that begins Friday night at sundown and lasts until Saturday at sundown. In observing Shabbat the Jewish people are following the Torah by working six days a week and resting on the seventh. For most Chrisitians this day of rest is Sunday. For Christians this began when the church met in the Synagogues. In order to "share" their place of worship they would meet on Saturday nights which is technically Sunday according to the Jewish calendar observed by the apostles and the early church.

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