The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath)
- Chanukah
- Other Holidays and Fasts
- Passover
- Purim
- Rosh HaShanah
- Shavuos
- Sukkos
- The Jewish Calendar
- The Sabbath
- Yom Kippur
-
"Sabbaths"
Why does the Torah (in Lev. Ch. 23) refer only to the festivals of the seventh month as "sabbaths"? The same types of work are prohibited on all the holidays; the Torah defines it, in connection with Passover, in Ex.12:16.…
-
Shabbos Candles
Why do we light candles on Shabbos? Shabbos lights aren't mentioned in the Bible, but they are a natural part of the enjoyment of Shabbos (Isaiah 58:13). No doubt there were sectarians who prohibited Shabbos lights based on their interpretation…
-
The Beginning of the Day
When does the day begin? The Jewish day begins at sundown. The Biblical source for this is Genesis Ch.1, where the Days of Creation are counted using the wording "It was evening and it was morning, one day" (etc.).
-
Reading Koheles
Why do we read Koheles on Sukkos? The custom of reading Koheles on Shabbos Chol Ha-Moed Sukkos is mentioned by the Rema (Orach Chayim 490:9). A possible allusion to Sukkos in Koheles is 11:2, “Give a portion to seven and…
-
Measuring Time
How do the Jews measure time? An hour is defined as 1/12 of a day; thus the length of an hour varies with the seasons and with latitude. To define periods of time more precisely, an hour is divided into…
-
Changing Sabbath to Sunday
When and why did the Christians change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday? Changing the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday (the day on which Jesus was said to have been resurrected) was debated for a long time — as far…
-
The Tenth of Nisan
Should we celebrate on the tenth of Nisan? The tenth of Nisan isn’t celebrated in any special way nowadays, but at the time of the Exodus it was the day on which the Hebrews put aside lambs for the Passover…
-
Chanukah
What is Chanukah? Chanukah is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the successful revolt of the Jews against the Syrians around 150 BCE, and their establishment of a Jewish kingdom in Palestine. The word means “dedication”, referring to the purification and…
-
The Omer
What was the omer? How was it counted? The Omer was a measure of barley (see Ex.16:36) that was offered on the day after Passover (Lev.23:9-14). Seven weeks were then counted, starting on that day; the 50th day was then…