Jewish Holidays and Festivals (חגים ומועדים)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the Hebrew dates, meanings, historical stories, and customs of Jewish holidays and fast days.

Rosh Hashanah

Meaning Head of the year and occurring on $1 - 2$ Tishrei, this holiday focuses on New Beginnings and the Day of Judgement.

Tzom Gedaliah

The Fast of Gedaliah observed on $3$ Tishrei to mourn the killing of a great leader in Israel.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement on $10$ Tishrei, focusing on holiness and forgiveness for the Golden Calf; it includes $5$ prayers from Kol Nidrei to Ne’ilah.

Sukkot

Meaning Booths/huts and held from $15 - 21$ Tishrei, it commemorates Hashem’s protection in the desert.

Shemini Atzeret

The $8\text{th}$ day of stopping work on $22$ Tishrei, which focuses on closeness to Hashem and include Tefillat Geshem (prayer for rain).

Simchat Torah

The Joy of the Torah on $23$ Tishrei, where the last parsha is read and the cycle immediately restarts from the beginning.

Chanukah

Meaning Dedication and starting on $25$ Kislev, it celebrates the Maccabees' victory and the miracle where oil lasted $8$ days.

Asarah B’Tevet

The $10\text{th}$ of Tevet, a fast day mourning when Babylonians laid siege to the walls of Jerusalem before destroying the $1\text{st}$ Beit Hamikdash.

Tu B’Shvat

The $15\text{th}$ of Shevat, known as the Rosh Hashana for trees, when Hashem decides what trees will produce in the coming year.

Ta’anit Esther

The Fast of Esther on $13$ Adar, commemorating when Esther asked the Jews to fast before she spoke to Achashverosh.

Purim

Meaning Lots (lottery) on $14$ Adar, celebrating the Jews being saved from Haman’s evil decree.

Pesach (Passover)

Meaning Pass over and occurring from $15 - 22$ Nissan, it celebrates freedom and the Exodus from Egypt.

Yom HaShoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day observed on $28$ Nissan.

Yom HaZikaron

Day of Memorial observed on $4$ Iyar.

Yom HaAtzmaut

Israel Independence Day observed on $5$ Iyar.

Yom Yerushalayim

Observed on $28$ Iyar to celebrate the unification of Jerusalem during the $6$ Day War.

Lag BaOmer

The $33\text{rd}$ Day of the Omer on $18$ Iyar, marking when Rabbi Akiva's students stopped dying and the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Shavuot

Meaning Weeks and held on $6 - 7$ Sivan, it commemorates receiving the Torah and the $10$ Commandments at Har Sinai.

Shiv’a Asar B’Tammuz

The $17\text{th}$ of Tammuz, a fast day mourning the Golden Calf and the Romans breaking through the walls of Jerusalem.

Tish’a B’Av

The $9\text{th}$ of Av, a day of sadness when the Spies spoke badly about Israel and both Batei Mikdash were destroyed.

Simanim

Symbolic foods for Rosh Hashanah, including apple in honey, pomegranate, and the head of a fish.

Machzor

The specific prayer book used for davenning on Rosh Hashanah.

Tashlich

A ceremony performed at water during Rosh Hashanah.

Lulav, Etrog, Hadassim & Aravot

The four species used for blessings during the holiday of Sukkot.

Shiv’at Haminim

The seven species of Israel eaten and planted during Tu B’Shvat.

Mishloach Manot

The practice of sending food gifts to friends during Purim.

Matanot La’evyonim

The practice of giving gifts to the poor during Purim.

Ka’arah

The Seder plate used on Pesach containing zroah, beitzah, marror, chazeret, charoset, and karpas.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot

The tradition of staying up to learn Torah on the night of Shavuot.

Megillat Rut

The Scroll of Ruth, which is read during the holiday of Shavuot.

Megillat Eicha

The Book of Lamentations read while sitting on low chairs during Tish’a B’Av.