Jewish Feasts and Observances

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the major Jewish feasts, holy days, and historical observances including their cultural practices and chronological details.

Passover "Pesach"

Occurs on the $14^{th}$ day of Nisan to remember being saved by God from slavery in Egypt.

Passover Seder

A meal eaten at dusk during Passover after all leavening agents have been removed from the home.

Feast of Unleavened Bread "Chag HaMatzot"

The $7$ days after Passover where no leaven ("chametz") is allowed and the first and last days are Sabbaths.

Chametz

Leaven or certain grains that are forbidden from the household during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Feast of First Fruits "Yom HaBikkuriam"

Occurs on the $2^{nd}$ day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, where no bread is eaten until the firstfruits are offered to the Lord.

Omer

A measure of green barley waved by a priest every day while counting down the $50$ days to the Feast of Weeks.

Feast of Weeks "Shavuot" or "Pentecost"

Occurs $50$ days after the Exodus and commemorates when the $10$ Commandments were given on Mount Sinai.

Feast of Trumpets "Rosh Hashanah" or "Yom Teruah"

The $1^{st}$ day of Tishrei, marking the first day of the Jewish Year and a $10$ day period of repentance.

Shofars

Ram's horns blown to call people to repent during the Feast of Trumpets.

Day of Atonement "Yom Kippur"

The $10^{th}$ day of Tishrei, considered the most important Holy Day, involving a $25$ hour fast, charity, and intense prayer.

High Priest's Role (Yom Kippur)

The day when the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies and sacrifices are made for the entire land.

Feast of Tabernacles "Sukkot"

Celebrated in the month of Tishrei to remember how God provided for the people in the wilderness.

Sukkah

A temporary dwelling with three sides and a roof made of branches where people live during the Feast of Tabernacles.

Lulav and Hosannah

Palm branches waved at the Temple while shouting "Hosannah" (please save us) during Sukkot.

Year of Jubilee

Occurred every $50$ years ($7 \times 7$ years), where debts were forgiven, slaves were freed, and land was returned to original owners.

Purim

A remembrance of being delivered from destruction by Haman through Queen Esther and Mordecai.

Fast of Esther

A fast observed from dawn till dusk, or even for $3$ days, associated with the Purim story.

Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication)

Commemorates the $165\,BC$ victory of a small group of Jews over the Seleucid Empire.

Judas Maccabeus

The son of Mattathias the priest who led the revolt against the Macedonian/Greeks and won despite a severe disadvantage.

Hanukkiah

A $9$ branch lampstand lit each night during the Feast of Dedication.