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Festivals

"These are My festivals, the festivals of the Eternal One, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions"
Leviticus 23:2

Our Jewish Year begins with Rosh Hashanah - New Year. The blast of the Shofar ushers in the New Year, announcing the season of repentance. Yom Kippur follows with its day long fast during which we confess our sins- a day of Atonement. Then Sukkot - festival of fruits, the joyous celebration of the harvest followed by Simchat Torah - ending and restarting the Torah. The dark December nights are illuminated by the brightly burning lights of Chanukah - festival of lights, recalling for us the heroic Maccabees and our people's long struggle to remain Jewish. In the midst of winter we celebrate Tu Bishevat - festival of trees, and as winter ends we read the Purim story from the Megilah and revel in the miracle of our physical survival despite the numerous attempts to destroy us. Spring liberates the world from the grip of winter, and we recall our liberation from Egyptian bondage. We gather at the Pesach table to recite the Haggadah, to eat the symbolic foods and celebrate our freedom. On Yom Hashoah we mourn the death of six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis- Holocaust Memorial day. Then grief gives way to rejoicing as we join in the celebration of Israel's rebirth on Yom Ha'atzmaut - Israel's Birthday. Seven weeks after Passover we end the counting of the Omer with Shavuot, the festival that celebrates revelation. We stand as at Mount Sinai- Moses receiving the 10 commandments. Summer is soon upon us and on Tisha Beav we recall the tragic destructions of the Temples and lament the historic suffering of our people. Then the dark mood turns to anticipation as we enter the month of Elul and prepare again to greet the New Year with Rosh Hashanah. We have come full circle.

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