Holidays

Purim is a lot of fun, with festivities that include food gifts, skits, songs and costumes! Purim is a happy occasion that acknowledges & commemorates the persistence and survival of Jews throughout history. The true meaning of Purim is not so much in its origins as it is in its evolution into a joyful and grateful celebration of Jewish survival.

A important Jewish spring celebration, Passover (Pesach in Hebrew) commemorates family and freedom as we recall the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago. The primary activities of this festival revolve around a unique home service known as the seder, which consists of eating matzah and a joyous dinner. 

Rosh HaShanah (literally, “Head of the Year”) is the Jewish New Year and marks the beginning of a 10-day period, known as the Yamim Nora-im (“Days of Awe” or “High Holidays”), which ends with Yom Kippur (the “Day of Atonement”).  Yom Kippur is the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer, and repentance.

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Simchat Torah, a fun-filled day celebrating the conclusion of the annual reading of the Torah, is observed immediately after Sukkot. It is an opportunity to reinforce Torah as one of the pillars around which we build our lives. The Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times as part of the festivities. 

One of the brightest holidays in the Jewish calendar is Sukkot. The Hebrew word "Sukkot," which means "booths" or "huts," designates the Jewish holiday that occurs in commemoration of the fall harvest. In addition, the holiday has come to honor the forty years that Jews spent wandering in the desert following the offering of the Torah atop Mount Sinai.

One of the most popular Jewish holidays, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration of light and joy. The event, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated with candles, food, family, and friends, bringing warmth, light, and joy to our homes and communities. There is a renewed emphasis on charity and a dedication to tikkun olam during the festival.