Jewish Holiday

• Also Try: Chanukah
• Also Try: When is Chanukah

The Mahalo Top 7

1. Chabad.org: Jewish Holidays and Festivals
2. Judaism 101: Jewish Holidays | A Gentile's Guide to the Jewish Holidays
3. Orthodox Union: Jewish Holidays
4. Wikipedia: Jewish Holiday | Jewish Holidays 2000-2050
5. Union For Reform Judaism: Calendar of Jewish Holidays  
6. JewishGen: Introduction to Jewish Calendar | Jewish Festival Dates
7. B'nai B'rith: Jewish Holiday Calendar

Shabbat (Sabbath)

• Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest, observed from sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night.
• Chabad.org: Shabbat  
• Aish.com: Guide to the Laws of Shabbat
• The Orthodox Union: Candle Lighting Times for Shabbat
• The Jewish Outreach Institute: Shabbat - The Sabbath
• Tot Shabbat: Shalom Shabbat Shalom Song  
• Siddur Audio: Shabbat Services Audio

The Big Jewish Holidays

Rosh Hashanah

• Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and the beginning of the "High Holidays", also known as the "Days of Awe", when Jews reflect upon the previous year.
• See Mahalo's Guide to Rosh Hashanah
• About.com: The Jewish New Year  
• Judaism 101: Rosh Hashanah
• All Recipes: Rosh Hashanah Recipe Collection

Yom Kippur

• Yom Kippur is known as the "Day of Atonement". Jews the world over will fast for 24 hours as an act of repentance.
• Wikipedia: Yom Kippur
• MavenSearch: Yom Kippur Guide
• American Jewish Committee: Yom Kippur Audio  
• Slate Magazine: Improving on Yom Kippur  
• Bible Gateway: Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement

Sukkot

• Sukkot takes place in autumn and is known as a "pilgrim festival". On this day, Jews build a sukkah and celebrate nature and its bountiful offerings.
• Aish.com: Sukkot
• Judaism 101: Sukkot Blessings
• MyJewishLearning.com: Lulav and Etrog: The Four Species  
• Wikipedia: Four Species
• Bible Gateway: Leviticus 23:33-44 - Feast of Tabernacles

Simchat Torah

• In Judaism, the Torah is read annually, with specific readings scheduled for the same time each year, read in succession. Simchat Torah, which takes place immediately after Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, celebrates this annual tradition by completing and beginning the Torah in the same day.
• About.com: Simchat Torah Articles  
• Hillel: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
• The Jewish Outreach Institute: Simchat Torah Customs

Chanukah

• Chanukah is the "Festival of Lights", an eight-day holiday commemorating the burning of oil seven days longer than expected, as described in the Talmud.
• Chabad.org: Virtual Chanukah
• Midrash: Hanukkah
• Hebrew Songs: Chanukah Song Lyrics in English and Hebrew
• All Recipes: Hanukkah Recipe Collection
• Judaism 101: Virtual Dreidel Game
• Seeqpod: Adam Sandler's "The Chanukah Song"

Purim

• Purim is a celebratory holiday marking the thwarting of Haman's plan to commit genocide against all Jews. This story is read allowed twice from the Book of Esther.
• Aish.com: Purim Basics and Activities
• The Orthodox Union: The Mitzvot of Purim
• National Jewish Outreach Program: Purim Night Megillah Reading
• Gratz College: Purim History

Pesach (Passover)

• Pesach celebrates the exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt, as described in the Book of Exodus, in the Torah.
• Torah.org: Passover
• Wikipedia: Passover
• Chabad.org: International Seder Directory
• AOL Research & Learn: Fast Facts About Passover

Lag Ba'omer

• Lag Ba'omer is celebrated on the 33rd day after Pesach to celebrate the ending of a plague described in the Talmud.
• The Orthodox Union: Celebration of Lag Ba'Omer | The Mystery of Lag Ba'Omer
• National Jewish Outreach Program: Lag Ba'Omer
• Haaretz.com: The Fires of Lag Ba'omer (Iyyar 22, 5767)

Shavuot

• Shavuot celebrates the day the Jews were given the Torah at Mount Sinai. It takes place seven weeks after Pesach, with the time in between called the "Counting of the Omer".
• Chabad.org: Shavuot - The Giving of the Torah
• Union for Reform Judaism: Shavuot
• The Orthodox Union: Shavuot Celebration  
• Judaism 101: Shavu'ot

The Not-Quite-So-Big But Also Very Important Jewish Holidays

Tu B'Shvat

• Tu B'Shvat is the Jewish New Year for Trees. This is a day of nature appreciation; trees are frequently planted and fruits eaten.
• Aish.com: Tu B'Shvat
• iSolomon Holiday Central: Tu B'Shvat
• Torah.org: Tu B'Shvat - The New Year For Trees

Tisha B'Av

• Tisha B'Av takes place in midsummer (on the 9th day of Av, in the Hebrew Calendar), and is a national day of mourning in rememberence of the destruction of Jerusalem's first and second temples. These events took place on the same day over six centuries apart.
• Wikipedia: Tisha B'Av
• The Orthodox Union: The Ninth of Av | A Chronology of Destruction
• Judaism 101: Tisha B'Av
• Hillel: Tisha B'Av
• About.com: About Tisha B'Av  
• Chabad.org: Tisha B'Av and the Three Weeks

Rosh Chodesh

• Rosh Chodesh is Hebrew for "Head of the Month", and is observed at the appearance of a new moon, which is the beginning of a new Hebrew month.
• Jewish Virtual Library: Rosh Chodesh
• Chabad.org: The Laws of Rosh Chodesh
• MyJewishLearning.com: Rosh Chodesh - The New Moon  
• Hebrew for Christians: Rosh Chodesh - The Gift of the New Moon
• Ritualwell.org: Rosh Chodesh Prayers and Poems

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