Jewish holidays

Jewish holidays, also known as Jewish festivals or Yamim Tovim, are holidays observed in Judaism and by Jews throughout the world. These holidays occur throughout the year and include religious, cultural, and national elements, derived from three sources: Biblical mitzvot ("commandments"); Rabbinic mandates; Jewish history and the Jewish cultural heritage.

Biblical Holidays

The most important Jewish holidays are the Sabbath, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot, which are mandated in the Torah.

Sabbath

The Sabbath is a day of rest that begins at sundown on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday. It commemorates God's day of rest after the creation of the world.

Passover

Passover is a week-long festival that commemorates the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and their freedom from slavery. It is marked by the Seder meal, in which the story of the Exodus is retold.

Shavuot

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is also known as the Feast of Weeks, as it occurs seven weeks after Passover.

Sukkot

Sukkot is a week-long festival that commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters.

Rabbinic Holidays

Rabbinic holidays are those instituted by the Rabbis of the Talmudic era. These include Purim and Hanukkah.

Purim

Purim commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews in the ancient Persian Empire.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days.

Modern Holidays

Modern holidays are those that have been instituted in the modern era, such as Yom HaShoah and Yom HaAtzmaut.

Yom HaShoah

Yom HaShoah is a day of remembrance for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Yom HaAtzmaut

Yom HaAtzmaut is Israeli Independence Day, celebrating the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

See Also

• List of Jewish holidays
• Jewish calendar
• Jewish customs