Tag
Holidays
18 articles
Jewish Holiday Foods: What We Eat and Why
Every Jewish holiday has its signature foods — and each dish tells a story of history, symbolism, and tradition.
Simchat Torah: The Joy of Completing the Torah
On Simchat Torah, the final words of Deuteronomy are read and Genesis begins again — and the synagogue erupts in singing, dancing, and unrestrained joy with the Torah scrolls.
Why Jews Fast on Yom Kippur
The 25-hour Yom Kippur fast is commanded in the Torah as part of afflicting your soul — a physical expression of repentance that strips away bodily needs to focus entirely on spiritual renewal.
Why Do Jews Celebrate Hanukkah?
Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean victory over Greek oppressors in 164 BCE and the miracle of one day's oil lasting eight days in the rededicated Temple.
Hanukkah vs Christmas: A Respectful Comparison of Two December Holidays
Hanukkah and Christmas both fall in December and involve lights and gifts — but that's where the similarities end. Here's a respectful, honest comparison of two very different holidays.
All Jewish Holidays: A Complete Guide and Calendar
The definitive guide to every Jewish holiday — from the weekly Shabbat to the High Holy Days, pilgrimage festivals, and minor observances, with dates, greetings, customs, and foods for each.
Parashat Emor: The Priestly Code and the Complete Jewish Holiday Calendar
Parashat Emor establishes special rules for priestly conduct, then presents the complete Jewish holiday calendar — Shabbat, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot — making it the Torah's definitive guide to sacred time.
Parashat Re'eh: Blessing and Curse, Centralized Worship, Kashrut, and Tzedakah
Parashat Re'eh presents the choice between blessing and curse, commands centralized worship in Jerusalem, details the kosher dietary laws, mandates tzedakah for the poor, and lists the pilgrimage festivals.
Hallel: The Psalms of Praise in Jewish Worship
Hallel — Psalms 113-118 — is the joyful collection of praise psalms chanted on Jewish holidays. Learn when full and half Hallel are recited, the Yom HaAtzmaut debate, and why these ancient songs still make congregations sing.
Ashkenazi vs Sephardi Holiday Customs
Same holidays, different customs — from the kitniyot debate at Passover to the simanim on Rosh Hashanah. A guide to how Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews celebrate the same festivals in beautifully different ways.
Jewish Children's Books by Age: A Parent's Guide
The best Jewish children's books for every age — from board books for toddlers to novels for teens. Discover PJ Library, Sydney Taylor Award winners, holiday stories, and books that bring Jewish values to life.
Hebrew Months: A Complete Guide to the Jewish Calendar
All twelve (and sometimes thirteen) Hebrew months — their names, meanings, holidays, zodiac signs, tribal associations, and the rhythm of sacred time that governs Jewish life from Nisan to Adar.
Jewish Recipes: The Complete Collection — Every Dish, Every Holiday, Every Community
Your one-stop guide to every Jewish recipe on this site — organized by holiday, course, and community. From Ashkenazi classics like challah and brisket to Sephardic gems like shakshuka and bourekas, find exactly what you need for any occasion.
All Jewish Holidays: The Complete Reference Table
Every Jewish holiday in one comprehensive table — name, Hebrew date, approximate Gregorian dates, type, duration, key customs, foods, and traditional greeting.
Chol HaMoed: The Intermediate Days of Jewish Festivals
Chol HaMoed are the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot — a unique blend of holiday joy and weekday activity with special customs and restrictions.
Jewish Holidays in the Workplace: An HR Guide
A practical HR guide to Jewish holidays in the workplace, covering which holidays require time off, advance planning tips, legal accommodation requirements, and how to create an inclusive environment.
Jewish vs Christian Holidays: Shared Roots, Different Paths
Many Jewish and Christian holidays share historical roots but diverged dramatically in meaning. Passover and Easter, Hanukkah and Christmas, and other parallel celebrations reveal how two religions grew from a common trunk.
Eruv Tavshilin: Cooking From Holiday to Shabbat
When a Jewish holiday falls on Friday, eruv tavshilin — a simple ritual involving bread and a cooked item — enables cooking for Shabbat during the holiday. This practical halakhic solution reveals the rabbis' ingenuity.