ROSH HASHANAH [Head of the Year]/New Year/Trumpets  [Numbers 29:1]

	Creation and Judgment: "This is the day that the world was called into existence. This day He causes all creatures to stand in judgment"
	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---->

YOM KIPPUR/Day of Atonement [Leviticus 16]

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----->

SUKKOT/Tabernacles [Pilgrimage festival in Temple era]

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.

SIMCHAT TORAH/Rejoicing in the Law

Celebrates the end and beginning of the yearly cycle of reading Torah [Pentateuch]

HANUKKAH/Lights [Near winter Solstice]

	Eight-day commemoration of the re-dedication of the Temple after Judas Maccabeus expelled the Syrian occupiers in 164 BCE.
	Menorah [eight-branched candlestick] used during this festival.

Purim (Lots) (Feb/March) [Book of Esther]

Celebrates escape from massacre of Jews in Persia. Haman casts lots to chose day to destroy the Jews of the Persian Empire.

PESACH/Passover [Exodus 12:1-20; 23:15]. [Pilgrimage festival in Temple era]

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.

SHAVUOT(Weeks) / Pentecost (Fiftieth) [Exodus 23:16; Lev 23:15-21]

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.