When the Holidays Began

Answered by Rabbi Avi WeinribFurther responses from Rabbi Eliahu Levenson

Question

I was wondering how old the holiday of Passover is. I have heard it is the oldest holiday but i was thinking Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur started first. Can you give me an answer when all theses holiday’s started?

Answer

Thank you for your question. Actually all the holidays are the same age. Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur were all given by G-d to Moses on Mt. Sinai and he gave them to us. Since that time we have had the privlige of celebrating all of thes holidays, each one with their own unique laws and customs.

Rabbi Avi Weinrib

Follow-up questions (2)

Question

Isn’t Pesach first, as it was ordained whilst the Israelites were still in Egypt, before TORAH was even given at Mt Sinai?

Answer

Pesach was not ordained a holiday at that point, it was rather a one time commanded action. The holidays required of the Jews by the Torah were all given at Sinai at the same time as part of the overall covenant. That first required “matza” event was during the period when the Jews were living the exodus from Mitzrayim (Egypt). The holiday of Pesach is the annual commemoration of what had occurred during that time.

Question

When did the Sabbath first start? by who and where?

Answer

Shabbos is a sign of G-d’s covenant with the Jewish Nation. The requirement for Shabbos observance began the first Friday evening after G-d met with the Jewish people at Sinai, 3,319 years ago as of this writing.

Regards, Eliahu Levenson