The Fast of Tevet [עֲשָׂרָה בְּטֵבֵת] falls on the tenth day of the month of Tevet. Asara B'Tevet is a minor fast day. A fast is observed from sunrise to sunset in memory of the the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (588 BCE, 2 Kgs. 25:1-4) which ultimately resulted in the breaching of the walls of the city (17^th Tammuz 586, Jer. 52:6-7), the destruction of the Temple of Solomon three weeks later (9^th Av) and the conquest of Judah and the consequent exile.
Asara B'Tevet is therefore a part of the series of Fast Days which are connected with the destruction of Solomon's Temple:

1. The beginning of the Siege, Asara B'Tevet, 10^th Tevet
2. The breaching of the City walls, 17^th Tammuz
3. The destruction of the Temple, Tisha B'Av (9^th Av)
4. The Fast of Gedaliah (Tzom Gedaliah, 3 Tishri)
   

The Chief Rabbinate in Israel has, in modern times, marked Asara B'Tevet as a day of remembrance [a general kaddish day] for all those who died in The Shoah [The Holocaust] especially those who lack a definite date of death and so have no identifiable yahrtzeit.

The festival of Chanukah celebrates the liberation of the Temple by the Maccabees (2nd Century BCE). The Chanukiah [a special menorah for Chanukah] holds eight candles and a serving candle [used to light the other candles.] On each successive eve of Chanukah a new candle is lit. E.g., Day 1, one candle; Day 2, two candles, till the eighth day when all candles are lit.

The reading from the Prophets that accompanies the Parashat Hashavuah, the Portion of the Week taken from the Torah.

The Book of Genesis (1:14) speaks of the “lights in the dome of the sky” that set the days apart as signs of “set times/seasons” for the days and years. The Hebrew word for “set times” is moadim/festivals. Jewish festivals are events in time that are “sacred markers”; witnesses to the sacred. The Jewish festivals are: Shabbat (Sabbath), Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot (Tabernacles), Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach (Passover), and Shavuot (Pentecost)

Kabbalat Shabbat (The Receiving of Shabbat) is a mystical ritual inspired by the kabbalists of Safed which welcomes the Sabbath. The short ritual precedes the formal Friday night services on Shabbat. The Kabbalat Shabbat service includes Psalms (24, 95-99, 29) — the order of the psalms reflects the six days of creation followed by the Sabbath (Ps. 29) — and Lekha Dodi. The poem/hymn Lekha Dodi (Come, My Beloved) reflects the kabbalistic theme developed by the 16th kabbalists that the Sabbath, as God’s Shechinah, enters the world as a Bride of Israel to spend the Sabbath with Israel. The hymn itself, attributed to R. Solomon Alkabetz is based upon the words of the Talmudic sage, Rabbi Hanina, who used to say on Friday evening, “Come, let us go out to meet the Queen Sabbath” (Shab. 119a). Kabbalat Shabbat is concluded with Psalms 92 and 93. Some communities include Yedid Nefesh (R. Eleazer b. Moses Azikri, Safed 1533–1600) and portions of the Song of Songs (e.g. Dodi Li).

According to the Torah the days between Passover and Shavuot are to be counted (Lev. 23:15-16; Deut. 16:15-16). These 49 days of counting, which relate to the offering of an omer of barley, (called in Hebrew Sefirat Ha'Omer) are likened to a connecting thread between the Passover from Mitzrayim [Egypt] and the Giving of the Torah at Sinai.

Lag Ba'Omer (falling on 18^th Iyyar) is the 33^rd day of counting and, according to a tradition recorded in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (120:1-10), signals a small break in the counting to celebrate the ending of the "great plague," a perceived "divine sent" plague during the Counting of the Omer [Sefirat Ha'Omer] in Rabbi Akiva’s time (2^nd Century). The Talmud relates (Yevamoth 62b) that 2400 of Rabbi Akiva's disciples died at the same time because they did not treat each other with respect and the "world" remained desolate of learning until R. Akiva taught new masters. These new masters [R. Meir, R. Judah, R. Jose, R. Simeon, and R. Eleazar b. Shammua] revived the Torah.

Another tradition suggests that the R. Akiva's students died at the hands of the Romans during the Bar Kochba revolt. The celebration of Lag Ba'Omer with a break in fasting and the lighting of bonfires is, perhaps, a reflection of this tradition.

Yet another traditional celebration by some Jews at Lag Ba'Omer is the memorial of the death of R. Shimon. It is a kabbalistic belief that through one of R. Akiva's five students who survived the plague, R. Shimon [R. Shimon bar Yochai; Rashbi; aka. R. Simeon,] Israel received the mystical Torah, The Zohar. This hidden and mystical Torah transmitted through R. Shimon is a complement to the revealed Torah given through Moses.

The word "lag" is a shorthand way for writing 33, a number which is written in Hebrew as lamed gimel [לַ״ג‎]. Lag Ba'Omer is thus the 33rd day of the counting of the omer. An omer is a measure of barley. The counting of the days in the omer [ba omer = meaning, in the omer—Shephardic Jews call the days la omer meaning, of the omer] is a practice which dates from biblical times (Lev. 23:15-16) when, from the second day of Passover through to Shavuot [seven weeks,] a sheaf of barley the size of an omer was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. After Shavuot the offering changed from barley to wheat. It is because Shavuot marks the end of the 49 days of counting of the omer that Shavuot is also referred to as the Feast or Festival of Weeks. Shavuot, being the 50th day after Passover was named Pentecost by Hellenic Jews. See below for Sefirat Ha'Omer, The Counting of the Omer.

Pesach | פֶּסַח
Passover (Pesach) is the Jewish festival that remembers and relives the experience of God’s saving intervention in the history of Israel. The original Passover events are celebrated and retold every year during the Passover Seder, as though “each and every Jew living today were themselves part of the experience” (Maimonides, Mishneh Torah).

Purim celebrates the miracle of the deliverance from persecution and suffering wrought for the Jewish people in Persia. The story is told in the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) c. 4^th Cent. BCE.

In cities that were surrounded by a wall in the time of Joshua Purim is celebrated on the 15^th day of Adar, also called Shushan Purim.

The story of Purim which is recounted in the Hebrew Bible, in the Megillat Esther [Scroll of Esther], dates from the 4^th Century BCE. [Megillat Esther is the last of the canonical texts to be determined for inclusion in the Tanakh.] The Talmud attributes the account given in Megillat Esther to a redaction of an original text written by Mordechai (Baba Bathra 15a). The Book of Esther in the Septuagint [Greek Bible] differs from Megillat Esther and is understood as an interpretive adaptation. The Greek Esther (c. 2^nd Century BCE) adds additional traditions, e.g., Ahasuerus is identified with Artaxerxes.

Jerome's Latin text [Vulgate] of the Book of Esther is a translation of the Hebrew text with additions based upon the Greek version. Read more...

In a leap year, there are two months of Adar (Adar I & Adar II) and the celebration of Purim is moved to Adar II. However, Purim, together with Shushan Purim is celebrated in a minor way in Adar I. This celebration is called Purim Katan [and Shushan Purim Katan.] The word katan means “little” or “small.”

There is a strong connection between Purim Katan and Purim since it is the only observance (together with Shushan Purim Katan) which remains to be celebrated twice, in both months of Adar, in a leap year. The Talmud states, that

“There is no difference between the fourteenth of the first Adar [Purim Katan] and the fourteenth of the second Adar [Purim Sheni] save in the matter of the reading of the Megillah and gifts to the poor”

(BT. Megillah 6b).

Although it is a “little” Purim without the set observances of Purim, Jewish practice is to avoid mourning and fasting on Purim Katan, to omit the Tachanun (supplication prayers) after the Amidah prayer during Shacharit (morning) and Minchah (afternoon) services, and to celebrate the holiday with joy.

Rosh Hashanah, New Years Day, the first day of the Days of Awe, Yamim Noraim, is one of the holiest days in the Jewish year. Synagogue services focus on God’s sovereignty. It is customary to each apples dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah and to wish everyone “Happy New Year, and sweet one.”

Shabbat (שַׁבָּת‎, Sabbath), is a recurring weekly festival; a day of rest in honor of Creation and Redemption, beginning at sundown on Friday evening and “going out” at sundown Saturday.

Shabbat HaGadol | שַׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל

The Sabbath preceding Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol (The Great Sabbath). The origins of this special Shabbat lie in the Torah. It was on this day that the Jewish People followed the command of God and “took for themselves” a lamb which was to be set aside for the paschal sacrifice. This day, the 10th of Nisan, occurred four days before the first Passover (Pesach Mitzrayim, i.e. Passover from Egypt) which the sages determined to be on a Thursday.

The rabbis have attempted to explain the term Gadol applied to this Sabbath by reflecting upon the significance of the lamb (a deity to the Egyptians) and the instruction to select the lamb four days prior to the sacrifice.

This day was Gadol (Great) because The Great God (HaGadol) of the Hebrews commanded and miraculously allowed it to happen that, despite the affront to the Egyptians against their deity, the people of Israel where enabled to take this action. The Egyptians were not able to prevent the people of Israel from taking their lambs; a great miracle (nes gadol) indeed.

It is related in midrash that when the people of Israel explained their action as their protection against the coming plague of the firstborn [the tenth and last of the plagues], the firstborn of Egypt begged their fathers to let the Israelites go. When this cry was refused war broke out between them and many Egyptians died (Tosafot, Shabbat 87b; Midrash Tehillim 136:6; Tanchuma, Bo). This event alone warranted the designation Gadol to this day.

Others have espoused the teaching that because many Israelites who had adopted Egyptian practices repented and returned to their Jewish roots on this day, this Shabbat was honoured with the distinction Gadol in honor of God, who is referred to as “HaGadol”. According to the Pri Chadash (Rav Chizkiah Silva, 1657-1696) it was on this day that the people of Israel performed their first mitzvah, an achievement which alone should be called Gadol. Additionally they, in performing this first mitzvah, showed their maturity. It was, in effect, their bar mitzvah. These Jews, this day, became mature (gadol) adults. In a similar vein the Chatam Sofer (Moses Schreiber, 1762-1839) taught that on this day the people of Israel did teshuvah, fully returning to God in faith and commitment. Therefore they themselves are called gadol because God is Gadol.

Shabbat Skekalim (שַׁבָּת שְׁקָלִים) is one of four special Sabbaths related to the coming of Passover or Purim on which four extra readings from the Torah (Arba Parashiot) are read.

On Shabbat Shekalim, which falls on the Sabbath prior to, or on Rosh Chodesh Adar [Adar II in a leap year], a maftir reading is taken from Exodus (30:11-16) which describes the census of the Israelites and the requirement that every adult male contribute a half shekel to support the Temple. This tax is called the machatzit hashekel (“half a shekel”). The haftarah read this Shabbat is also related to the Temple tax (2 Kgs. 11:17-12:17).

Shabbat Shekalim falls approximately one month before the payment of the machatzit hashekel was due (on the 1st of Nisan.) In the Temple Period it was at this time that the courts would begin to post notices and make preparations for the approaching tax obligation, to remind people and set up the necessary structures (e.g., special money changers) to collect donations (Megillah 29b).

There is a relationship between Shabbat Shekalim and the celebration of Purim (Adar 14). According to the Talmud (Megillah 13b) it was because of the merit of the machatzit hashekel that the genocidal decree Haman obtained from King Ahasuerus was overturned. The money collected being for the tax being used to counter the 10,000 silver talents Haman had given the king.

“Resh Lakish said: It was well known beforehand to Him at whose word the world came into being that Haman would one day pay shekels for the destruction of Israel. Therefore He anticipated his shekels with those of Israel. And so we have learnt: ‘On the first of Adar proclamation is made regarding the shekalim’.” (Talmud, Megillah 13b)

Today many people make an effort to give to charity at the time of the Fast of Esther (13th Adar).

Shavuot is one of the three pilgrimage feasts. Shavuot, also called Hag Hashavuot/The Festival of Weeks, has agricultural roots in the “first fruits” of the harvest, and spiritual links to the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Shavuot is often called Hag Matan Torateinu (The Festival of the Giving of Our Torah.) Read more...

At the conclusion of the festival of Sukkot there are two holidays, Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah. In Israel, and for Liberal Jews, these are celebrated on the same day. For other Jews throughout the diaspora (where holidays are observed over two days) Simchat Torah is celebrated on the second day of Shemini Atzeret.

Shemini Atzeret, the “assembly of the eighth day,” is celebrated at the end of Sukkot (after the seventh day.) A Rabbinic midrash says that God desired one more day of intimacy with Israel and said to them, “Your departure is difficult for me. Stay with me one more day.” Shemini Atzeret is not a part of Sukkot but a separate holiday in it's own right.

On Shemini Atzeret the prayer for rain, teffilat geshem, is inserted in the second blessing of the Amidah prayer, replacing the prayer for dew recited since the beginning of Passover.

The Book of Leviticus teaches “You shall dwell in booths for seven days” (23:42). The Sukkot festival is related agriculturally to harvest, historically to forty years of “wandering” in the wilderness, and spiritually to rejoicing in the gifts and bounty that God has brought and wrought. Sukkot is called the Season of our Joy. It is customary to make a lulav for waving at prayer time during Sukkot.

The Fast of the First Born which commemorates the saving of the first born of Israel is observed by first born Jewish males on the day preceding Passover.

Tisha B’Av, the Ninth Day of Av, is a fast day of mourning for the many tragedies of Jewish history. Read more...

Called the New Year for Trees, Tu B'Shevat, the 15^th of the month of Shevat is one of four Jewish “New Years.” The holiday is connected to the practice of tithing and the need to establish the “legal” age of a tree to determine when the fruit should be tithed and when one could eat the produce.

“And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten. And in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto the LORD. But in the fifth year may ye eat of the fruit thereof....” (Leviticus 19:23-25)

Tu B'Shevat (the word “Tu” is “15” written in Hebrew טוּ) falls near the beginning of spring after the bulk of the winter rains have fallen and trees are in bud with new growth and fertility.

The holiday is celebrated is different ways.

• Many eat fruit of the land, especially that of the “seven species” grown in Israel.
• New year for trees is also a time to focus on planting trees or raising money to plant trees, especially in Israel.
• In the 17th Century the Kaballists of Safed established a special Tu B'Shevat seder which focused on the esoteric meaning to be found in the biblical statement, “Man is like the tree in the field” (Deut. 20:19). The practice spread among Sephardim and later to Ashkenazim. Many Jews celebrate a special seder modelled on the Passover seder on Tu B'Shevat.

Tu B'Shevat is not mentioned in the Torah but is found in the Mishnah in the context of establishing the correct date.

“There are four ‘new year’ days... the First of Shevat is the new year for trees, according to the ruling of Beit Shammai; Beit Hillel says, the fifteenth of that month.”
(Mishnah, Rosh Hashanah 1:1)

Tzom Tammuz falls on 17th day of the Jewish month of Tammuz (Shiva Asar B'Tammuz). [When the 17th Tammuz falls on Shabbat, the commemoration of Tzom Tammuz is moved to the following day in order to maintain the sanctity of Shabbat.]

Tzom Tammuz begins at dawn and ends at sundown. The day is known in the Tanach as the “fast of the fourth month” and associated with a coming time of joy and happiness for Judah.

The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts. The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace. (NRSV, Zech. 8:18-19)

Tzom Tammuz (“tzom” means “fast”) is associated with many calamitous dates in Jewish history. On this day Jews fast, refrain from joyous celebrations, observe special prayers and Torah readings. It is on this day also that the “Three Weeks,” a period of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples begins. The “Three Weeks” come to an end with the fast of Tisha B'Av (The 9th of Av).

The Talmud (Ta'anit 26b; 28b) and associated Gemara discuss the “five” tragedies which were reputed to have occurred on 17th Tammuz.

1. The breaking of the two tablets of the Law by Moses.
2. The daily offering (Korban Tamid) was discontinued in the Temple.
3. The breaching of the walls of Jerusalem.
   1. by Nebuchadnezzar, culminating in the destruction of the 1st Temple in c. 587 BCE.
   2. by the romans in 70 CE.
4. The Greek, Apostomos, burned a copy of the Torah (Ta'anit 4:6). This event was later associated with the beginning of the Bar Kochba revolt.
5. An idolatrous image was placed in the Temple. (See Baba Kama 82b for Talmudic discussion placing this event in the Hasmonean Period. Others say this was done by King Manasseh of Judah c. 697-642 BCE).

Read more...

Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur falls on the 10^th day of Tishri, at the culmination of forty days of repentance. These days of repentance include: the month of Elul (30 days), followed by Rosh Hashanah (the 1^st day of Tishri)—the beginning of Ten Days of Awe. Yom Kippur is the final Day of Awe, 10^th Tishrei.