CULTURE SABBATH HOLIDAYS

2 DAYS

ROSH HASHANA early-late September

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a period of reflection and repentance that culminates with Yom Kippur. It is a time for introspection, renewal, and new beginnings.

what to expect: streets filled with people dressed in their finest clothing, on their way to synagogue for special prayer services. The shofar, a traditional Jewish horn, is blown throughout the day, reminding people to reflect on their actions and seek forgiveness. Families gather for festive meals, which often include symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey to represent a sweet New Year.

YOM KIPPUR late Sep-early Oct 1 DAY

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is a day of fasting, prayer, and repentance. It is a time for atonement and seeking forgiveness for sins committed throughout the year.

what to expect: SUKKOS

The streets quiet and subdued, as Jews observe the day by abstaining from work, food, and drink. Synagogues hold special prayer services the entire day. The men wear white over-coats and the women will wear all white, to look like angels, since the day is believed to elevate humans to a godly status. The day concludes with the sounding of the shofar, marking the end of the fast and the beginning of a new year.

early-late October 9 DAYS

Sukkot is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the harvest season and commemorates the wandering of the Jews in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. During the holiday, Jews build and decorate temporary structures called sukkahs, which represent the dwellings used by the Israelites during their journey in the desert.

what to expect:

Wooden huts in every balcony and on the street, adorned with fruits and flowers. Families and friends gather to eat, drink, and celebrate in the sukkahs, which are also used for prayers and other religious observances. The holiday is marked by the waving of the lulav and etrog, a ritual that symbolizes the unity of the Jewish people and the abundance of the harvest season.

Sukkot is split into three parts: 2 days of a Sabbath -like holiday, followed by 4 intermediate days, were families celebrate by going on trips. Work can be done. It culminates with another 2 sabbath-like days, which celebrate the Torah through song.