Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, which is on Tishri 1. On this day the shofar or rams head is blown to call in the New Year at the synagogue service. The day stresses sovereignty of god and hope that all humans will recognize him, YHWH, as god. Traditional Jews celebrate it for two days; whereas Reform Jews celebrate for one day, according to Torahic law. On the afternoon of the first day people go to the river or pond to recite lashlich, which are verses on repentance and forgiveness of sin.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of atonement. It is celebrated on Tishri 10 of the Jewish calendar, which is 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur is called the Sabath of Sabaths. Marked by fasting and praying for forgiveness of sins made during the last year. On the eve of Yom Kippur the Kol nidre, service of repentance is held. Originally it was the only time the high priest would enter the inner sanctuary of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, to offer a sacraficial goat. A scapegoat to put the Jewish people's sins upon.
Sukkot
Called the Feast of the Tabernacles, this seven day festival is held in the middle of Tishri. The name come from the sukkots or booths in which the Israelites lived inside of during capitity.
Shemini Atzeret
This is the 8th day of Sukkot, which is observed on 22 Tishri.
Simhat Torah
Called the day of "Rejoicing in the Law" and completion of the Torah reading cycle, 23 Tishri.
Chanukah or Hanukkah
Called the Jewish Feast of Lights, Feast of Dedication. It celecrates the uprising of the Jewish community against the Syro-Greeks, that were in their land in 164 BC. The victory happened on the 25th of Kislev, which was led by Judah and his brothers, the sons of Mattathias, a Levite (of the tribe of Levi) and a Cohen, and a priest. These seven brothers and their followers came to be known as the "Maccabees." Their victory led to the Hasmonean Dynasty, descendants of Matathias who ruled as kings in Israel until the Roman conquest. Upon their victory the Maccabees rededicated the Temple of Eternal Light, which had been desscrated by Antiochus Epiphanes IV of Greece. The rededication, was threatened by a shortage of the sacred oil used to keep the menorah lit (the seven branched candelarum) without interruption. Although there was only one day's supply of oil the menorah burned for eight days. The eight days are celebrated by an eight day festival and a new eight branched candelarum.
B'Shevat
The New Year of Trees, observed on 15 Shevat, looked at as the Jewish Arbor Day.
Ta'anit Esther
The Fast of Esther, commemorates the memory of Queen Esther and the fast she proclaimed followinf the demands of Ahasuerus for death of her people. On the 13th of Adar.
Purim
Feasts of Lots, commemorates the deliverance of Jews in Persia from machinations of Haman on the 14th of Adar.
Passover
Yom Hashoa or Holocaust
Lag b' Omer
Shavuot
15 days starting on the 15th of Nisan
see easter
It looks back and reflects on the terrible suffering of the Jewery of Europe from 1833 to 1945. It is observed on 7 Nisan.
This the 33rd day of the 49 days between Passover and Savuot. Origin comes from the cessation of a plague that was killing the student body of Akiba, a sage in the 2nd century. Celebrated as a semiholiday in Israel with bonfires and dancing. Jews in other lands use this day, on the 18th of Iyar, to show love for the holy land of Israel.
Feast of Weeks. It is the completioon of seven weeks from the 2nd day of Passover. It celebrates the presentation of the Ten Commandments to Israel on Mount Sinai, and the first fruits of the harvest in Jeruslem. On the 6th and 7th of Sivan.
