A holiday commemorating the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire over 2,400 years ago, during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Artaxerxes). His wife, Queen Esther, who was Jewish, saved her people.
One of the most important Jewish holidays. It commemorates the events that led to the Jewish people becoming a unified nation. On the 15th day of Nisan (approximately 3,300 years ago), the Jewish people gained freedom by leaving Egypt, where they had been enslaved for over two centuries. This day symbolizes both spiritual and physical liberation and is considered the birth of the Jewish nation. From this date begins the national history of the Jewish people. The holiday lasts exactly one week (7 days).
The main national holiday of Israel, established in honor of the proclamation of the State of Israel in 1948.
This holiday commemorates the giving of the Tablets of the Covenant on Mount Sinai during the Exodus from Egypt, as well as the harvest festival, when the first fruits were brought to the Temple. On this day, the Jewish people received the commandments that have guided their lives for thousands of years. Shavuot is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (its name literally means “weeks”).
Not merely a New Year celebration, this holiday holds deep spiritual significance. According to Kabbalah, it marks the birthday of humanity and the creation of the world. It is believed that the first human, Adam, was created on this day.
The only day of the year when a person is instructed to refrain from all activities except reflection on their actions and thoughts. The origins of Yom Kippur date back to the times of the Temple, when the High Priest performed atonement rituals for the sins of the entire people of Israel.
The Feast of Tabernacles begins just four days after the solemn fast of Yom Kippur. During the week-long celebration, tradition calls for meals to be taken in a sukkah (a temporary hut), commemorating the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt.
A holiday celebrating the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Temple after the victory of Judah Maccabee over the forces of King Antiochus in 164 BCE. According to tradition, there was only enough oil in the Temple to keep the menorah burning for one day, but miraculously it lasted for eight days. In memory of this event, one candle is lit each day on a special candelabrum called a hanukkiah.