Last Updated on October 17, 2021

The Jewish Holidays, Festivals, Observances & Commemorations

Hebrew: חגים יהודיים

The major and minor Jewish holy days, festivals, observances and commemorations marked the world over.

Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year

• The significance of Rosh Hashanah
• The Hebrew Month – Tishrei
• Hearing the sound of the shofar – Dvar Torah
• Rosh Hashanah Recipes
• Rosh Hashanah Symbols – the Simanim
• Elul – The month spent preparing for the High Holidays
• The month of Tishrei – its place in the zodiac, Rosh Hashanah, Nitzavim and Vayelech.
• Festival blessings
• Rosh Hashanah terms; Hebrew-English-Transliterations

Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

• Yom Kippur – A day of fasting and repentance
• Commentaries 
• The Yom Kippur Fast – Medically approved tips for an easy fast
• Blessings and brachot for Yom Kippur
• Yom Kippur terms: Hebrew-English-Transliterations

Sukkot – The Festival of Tabernacles & Simchat Torah – Rejoicing the Torah

• The Festival of Tabernacles
• The Four Species
• Guide to Building a Sukkah
• Some Sukkot Jokes
• Sukkot Recipes
• Simchat Torah blessings
• Hakafot – Encircling the Bima with Torah Scrolls

Hanukah – The Festival of Lights

• Hanukah – The festival of lights
• The Hebrew month – Kislev
• Hanukah Jokes
• Hanukah Recipes
• Hebrew English: Hanukah

Purim – The Festival of Lots

• Purim – The festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia
• The Hebrew Month – Adar
• Purim Recipes
• Purim Jokes
• Hebrew-English: Purim
• Why do we dress up on Purim?
• Purim costumes ideas – from a cardboard box

Tu B’Shevat – New Year of Trees

• The Tu B’Shevat seder; it’s significance and practices explained
• The Hebrew month – Shevat

Pesach – Passover

• The Festival of Freedom, liberation & unleavened bread…
• The Hebrew Month – Nissan
• Pesach Recipes
• Hebrew-English: Pesach
• Pesach Jokes
• Medications kosher for Pesach
• Pesach cleaning checklist
• Downloadable Pesach shopping list

Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day

• Holocaust Memorial Day
• Unto every person there is a name

Yom HaAtzmaut – Independence Day

• Israel Independence Day
• Yom Ha’atzmaut jokes
• Yom Ha’Atzmaut recipes
• Try this veggie burger instead

Yom HaZikaron – Memorial Day

Memorial day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror

Lag B’Omer – 33rd Day of the Omer

• The 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer – the days between Pesach and Shavuot
• Hebrew-English: Lag B’Omer 
• Bonfire safety
• Share a Lag B’Omer joke around the bonfire
• Lag B’Omer tales, traditions and tips

Shavuot – Festival of Weeks

• The Festival of Weeks and Giving of the Torah
• Shavuot astrology, parables and Dvar Torah – Rav. Nissim Makor
• The Hebrew month – Sivan
• Hebrew-English: Shavuot
• Traditionally dairy, here are some of our favorite Shavuot recipes
• Cheesy Shavuot jokes
• Popular varieties of Israeli cheese

Tisha B’Av – 9th of Av

The month of Av and significant events around the 9th day.

Tu B’Av – a day of love

Tu B’Av – a minor holiday and one of the happiest days of the year.

Kosher, traditional recipes for the Jewish holidays and festivals

• Rosh Hashanah Recipes
• Sukkot Recipes
• Hanukah Recipes
• Tu B’Shevat Recipes
• Purim Recipes
• Pesach Recipes
• Yom Ha’Atzmaut Recipes
• Shavuot Recipes
• Herbs & Spices of the Israeli Kitchen
• Beef cuts
• Fish favorites
• Popular cheeses
• Fruits and vegetables in season