JEWISH FESTIVALS
The Religious Calendar and the Consecration of Ordinary Time
The calendar of religious festivals is a major unifying focus for
identity.
Note
the scriptural passages on which the festivals are based.
SABBATH
- Exodus 20:11; 23:12;Deut 5:15; Nehemiah 13:15-22
SABBATICAL
YEAR - Leviticus 25:1-7. JUBILEE - Lev 25:8-34
AUTUMN
CYCLE
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ROSH
HASHANAH [Head of the Year]/New Year/Trumpets
[Numbers 29:1]
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Creation
and Judgment: "This is the day that the world was called
into existence. This day He causes all creatures to stand in
judgment" |
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Sophar
[ram's horn] calls to people to return to God, beginning 10 days
of self-examination and repentance. This period concludes with
Yom Kippur----> |
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YOM
KIPPUR/Day of Atonement [Leviticus 16]
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Day
the high priest in the Temple made sacrifice for Israel's sins.
Now a day of fasting and prayer; atonement sought through
repentance. Five days later comes Sukkot-----> |
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SUKKOT/Tabernacles
[Pilgrimage festival in Temple era]
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One
of three harvest festivals; reminds the people of how God
provided in the wilderness. Temporary booths [tabernacles] of
branches are built for eating meals or sleeping. |
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SIMCHAT
TORAH/Rejoicing in the Law
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Celebrates
the end and beginning of the yearly cycle of reading Torah
[Pentateuch] |
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HANUKKAH/Lights
[Near winter Solstice]
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Eight-day
commemoration of the re-dedication of the Temple after Judas
Maccabeus expelled the Syrian occupiers in 164 BCE. |
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Menorah [eight-branched
candlestick] used during this festival. |
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Purim
(Lots) (Feb/March) [Book of Esther]
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Celebrates
escape from massacre of Jews in Persia. Haman casts lots to
chose day to destroy the Jews of the Persian Empire. |
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SPRING
CYCLE
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PESACH/Passover
[Exodus 12:1-20; 23:15]. [Pilgrimage festival in Temple era]
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Celebrates
delivery from Egyptian slavery; a special meal [SEDER/ORDER]
held in the home. The order of ritual is the Haggadah showing
forth. A vacant place at table with a glass of wine is set for
Elijah, the expected herald of the Messianic Age. Unleavened
bread [matzah] is eaten as a reminder of the "bread of
affliction" which slaves ate in Egypt. Hence this festival
is also known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread". The
week-long Passover festival ends with a spring harvest festival.
Since the failure of the revolt against Rome in 135 CE, the
seven weeks following Passover are a time of mourning. |
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SHAVUOT(Weeks)
/ Pentecost (Fiftieth) [Exodus 23:16; Lev 23:15-21]
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Fifty
days after the second day of Pesach, this feast commemorates the
giving of the Law to Moses on Mt Sinai. It is also another
spring harvest festival, First Fruits. |
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Added in Post Temple Period
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TISHAH
B'AV/9th day of Av [July/Aug]
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Mourning
and fasting in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple, 70
CE.
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