This is a report I gave in 7th grade, dated 1-22-73:
Jewish Holidays
Passover or Pesach is a Jewish holiday which is celebrated from the fifteenth to the twenty-first of hisan (see chart). Passover really starts at sundown on the fourteenth day of hisan. The first two days and the last two days of Passover are full holidays when work is forbidden. The middle three days of Passover are half-holidays. The first two evenings of Passover a traditional meal is eaten which is motzoth (bread) and bitter herbs which is in memory of the bitterness of the Egyptian slavery. Also, the youngest child asks the "four questions" or the Haggadah. These activities are called the Seder ceremonies. Passover commemorates the Exodus, that is the redemption from Egyptian slavery. You can find Passover in the Bible under Exodus 12:15, 34:18, Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:17; Deuteronomy 16:3.
Festival of the Lights or Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the macabees over the Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C., like the Fourth of July. Hanukkah is independence for the Jews. On the twenty-fifth of Kislev (see chart) Hanukkah begins and it lasts for eight days. Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting a candle every day. Hanukkah is somewhat like Christmas. Every day of Hanukkah you give a gift to all the people you want to. Also on Hanukkah hymns are sang.
Yom Kippur is celebrated by worship and fasting. Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of Tishri (see chart). It is also the Jewish day of atonement. On Yom Kippur the Jews ask forgiveness for their sins to God. The holiday really starts on sundown of the ninth day of Tishri. For the Jews on Yom Kippur work is forbidden. In the Bible you can find Yom Kippur in Leviticus 16:23, 26:32, 25:9; and Numbers 29:7-11.
Rosh Hashanah is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri (see chart). Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the High Holy Days. Yom Kippur is eight days after Rosh Hashanah. According to tradition the world was made the first two days of Tishri. That's why Rosh Hashanah is celebrated. The shofar or ram's horn is blown during Rosh Hashanah.
Purim is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Adar (see chart). It is in honor of when the Jews of Persia (now Iran) were saved from the evil plot to kill them. Lots had been drawn to settle a day to destroy the Jews. "Pur" in Persian means lots. That's why they call it Purim. It is a joyous occasion for the Jews so they celebrate it with much fanfare. You can find the story of Purim in the scroll of Esther which is in the Hebrew Bible.
Tishah B'ab is celebrated on the ninth day of Av (see chart). Through the three weeks before Tishah B'ab, Jewish people hold no weddings or celebrations. On the day of Tishah B'ab, Jews fast and, when they go to the synagogue, the book of Lamentations is recited. On the ninth day of Av, the first temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. That's why Tishah B'ab is celebrated.
Sukkot is celebrated on the fifteenth day of Tishri (see chart). Sukkot lasts nine days. The eighth of Sukkot is called Shemini Azeret. The ninth day is called Simhat Torah. Some of the plants that are used in the celebration are palm branches, citrons, myrtle, and willow branches. During Sukkot some Jews live in huts called sukkot to remind them of their ancestors who lived in huts. Sukkot was originally celebrated because of the end of the harvest season.
Simhat Torah is celebrated on the twenty-third day Tishri (see chart) and is the eighth day of Sukkot. Also the reading of the Pentateuch is ended on Simhat Torah. This reading is started again on the first Saturday after Sukkot.
The Sabbath is observed every Saturday. If officially starts sunset Friday evening and lasts 'til sunset Saturday evening. For the Jew's Sabbath is a day of rest. After the Babylonian exile, the Sabbath observance became very strict. Some rules forbid lighting fires, bearing burdens, gathering sticks, and walking more than a mile. One of the Ten Commandments is about observing the Sabbath.
Shabuot or Shavuot is celebrated on the sixth day of Sivan (see chart). Some Jews celebrate it for two days. Shabuot celebrates when the Ten Commandments was given to Moses on Mount Sinai. According to one tradition the reason the scroll of Ruth is read on Shabuot is because King David, who was a descendant of Ruth died on Shabuot.
Lag Ba'omer is celebrated on the eighteenth day of Iyar (see chart). In the A.D. 100's, the students of Rabbi Akiba were struck with a violent epidemic and when the epidemic was over there was a celebration which became Lag Ba'omer. That's why they call it the Scholars Festival.
Rosh Hodesh is celebrated every new month. Special blessings are read on Rosh Hodesh. The moon is the base for the Hebrew months. That's why the ancient Hebrews celebrated Rosh Hodesh according to the New Moon.
People are generally observing the traditions of many new cultures nowadays. With these simple details, anyone can broaden their festivities by including some Jewish history in them.***
Gregorian Civil Calendar
_____________________________ Hebrew Calendar and Holidays
/
/September Yom Kippur,
/_____________________________ Tishri / Succot, Shemini Azeret, Simhat Torah
/
/October
/_____________________________ Heshvan
/
/ November
/_____________________________ Kislev / Hanukah
/
/ December
/_____________________________ Tevet
/
/ January
/_____________________________ Shevat / Tu Bishvat
/
/ February
/_____________________________ Adar / Purim
/
/ March
/_____________________________ Nisan / Pesach
/
/ April
/_____________________________ Iyar / Yom Ha'azmaut Lag B'omer
/
/ May
/_____________________________ Tammuz / Shavuot
/
/ June
/_____________________________ Sivan
/
/ July
/_____________________________ Av / Tisha B'av
/
/ August
/_____________________________ Elul
***"Purim," World Book Encyclopedia, XV
"Tishah B'ab," World Book Encyclopedia, XVIII
"Lag B'aomer," World Book Encyclopedia, XII
"Hanukkah," Colliers Encyclopedia, XI
Purdy, Susan. "Jewish Holidays"
"Rosh Hashanah," Colliers Encyclopedia, XX
"Shabuot," "Sukkot," "Sabbath," World Book Encyclopedia, XVII
"Yom Kippur," World Book Encyclopedia, XX
