Jewish Festivals

The Jewish calendar has 12 months. Each month starts with the new moon. Each day starts at sunset in the evening and continues to sunset the next day. Each week starts on Saturday evening. The seventh day of the week, Shabbat, is a day of rest which starts at sunset on Friday night. Shabbat is the highlight of the week.

In the calendar, the Jewish year starts in the Autumn. It brings in the period of the High Holidays including: 

• Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year 

• Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement - Turning to God for forgiveness

• Sukkot - The Festival of Shelters - Remembering God's provision for us in the desert and our dependence on Him

• Simchat Torah - Rejoicing in the Torah - The words of God in the Torah Scroll

In Winter we celebrate

• Chanukah - The Festival of Lights and Dedication - Remembering the Maccabees rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem having defeated the Greeks 

Spring brings the festivals of:

• Purim - Celebrating Queen Esther and safety for the Jewish people in exile in Persia

• Pesach - The festival of Passover celebrates freedom from slavery in Egypt

In the Summer:

• We celebrate Shavuot - The Feast of Weeks - Celebrating the harvest

• We commemorate Tisha b'Av - The 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av - Remembering times of loss and looking forward with hope