October's Jewish Holidays

Jewish holidays fall on different days each year, as they are based on the Hebrew lunar calendar, rather than the most widely used calendar - the Gregorian calendar - which is often associated with Christianity. All of the following holidays fall in the lunar month of Tishrei, and a day in the Hebrew lunar calendar runs from sunset to sunset.

Rosh Hashanah: October 2 - October 4. 

ראש השנה / יום תרועה

Translation: Rosh Hashanah: “Head of the Year”

We got to kick off the Jewish New Year at the start of October, as Erev Rosh Hashanah began on the evening of October 2nd, at sundown. Rosh Hashanah traditionally commemorates the creation of Adam and Eve, emphasizing themes of renewal, potential, and responsibility. It is a time for reflection, inviting Jewish people to seek self-improvement and consider their relationship with God and others, as well as begin the process of seeking forgiveness. This first step of seeking forgiveness marks the start of Teshuva (Ten Days of Repentance). Traditionally, the beginning of Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the shofar the morning of the first day following Erev Rosh Hashanah. The shofar is made from the horn of a kosher animal, and the sound simulates the cries of the human voice calling out to God. Hearing the Shofar is a mitzvah, and it is sounded 100 times during the holiday. During Rosh Hashanah, God's sovereignty over the universe is renewed, and He allocates blessings for the new year, evaluates people’s deeds, and writes them into the Book of Life. The Jewish people gather together and pray for a sweet year, and eat sweet foods to symbolize this, traditionally including apples dipped in honey, dates, and challah. The holiday ends during the evening of the second day (October 4th this year), with the final sounding of the shofar, special prayers that emphasize gratitude and hope, and more festive meals. Rosh Hashanah activities include the ritual of Tashlich, where Jewish people gather at a body of water and symbolically cast off their sins, throwing breadcrumbs into the water. Rosh Hashanah encourages everybody to embrace the coming new year and the possibilities it brings, fostering hope and a commitment to positive change. Rosh Hashanah has traditionally been celebrated for two full days in the diaspora, historically reflecting a period where the timing of the new month was uncertain. However Jewish Israelis generally observe it for one day. 

Yom Kippur: October 11 - October 12.

יום כפור 

Translation: Day of Atonement.

The most important Jewish holiday - Yom Kippur - began the evening of October 11th, a few minutes before sundown. This is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and is rooted in the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. The first Yom Kippur took place upon arrival at Mount Sinai, where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Moses shattered the tablets once witnessing his people worshiping a golden calf, but after the Israelites atoned for their sins, they were forgiven by God, who provided a new set. During biblical times, Yom Kippur was the only day the High Priest could enter the Holy Temple’s inner sanctum to seek atonement for the people of Judea, a tradition that ended after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. by the Romans, seven years after they invaded Judea (The First Temple had been destroyed on the same site by the Babylonians in 586 BCE). Tradition now consists of a 25 hour fast, intensive prayer, and a commitment to personal growth, though Jewish people celebrate in many different ways. A large gathering and meal before the fast is customary, but there are exceptions to the fasting tradition. Children, elderly, and those with health or other issues are not expected to fast, as Judaism teaches that preserving life and health is more important than religious observance and that the value of human life is sacred. A common saying during Yom Kippur is “g’mar chatima tova” (גמר חתימה טובה) translating to “May you be sealed in the Book of Life,” as it is traditionally when God seals the Book of Life after having written people’s deeds in them during Rosh Hashanah. Services begin at sundown with the singing of Kol Nidre (כל נדרי), and prayers are read from the Machzor (מחזור), which is used during the High Holidays. During Yom Kippur, Jewish people focus on spiritual reflection and repentance. The fast concludes after the N’eila (נעילה) service with the sounding of the shofar, and is often followed by a community gathering and meal. The October 6, 1973 Yom Kippur War (referred to by the U.S. Government as the Arab-Israeli War of 1973) is a significant, relatively recent historical addition to the remembrance of Yom Kippur, when a coalition of states led by Egypt and Syria led a joint surprise attack against Israel in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights on Yom Kippur. The war ended with Israel (led by Prime Minister Golda Meir) regaining territory lost during the first few days of the war, and a ceasefire after nineteen days on October 25. While no formal peace agreement was reached between Israel and Syria following the war, the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty was signed in March of 1979, marking a significant step towards peace in the region.

Sukkot: October 16 - October 23

סוכות / סכות

Translation: “Booths” or “Tabernacles”

Sukkot began on the evening of October 16, at sundown per the Jewish tradition, and ended at sundown on October 23, lasting eight days in the diaspora (though it is celebrated for seven days in Israel). Sukkot has ancient historical roots, originating in the Torah then becoming one of the pilgrimage festivals during the period of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, Sukkot celebrations transitioned from sacrificial offerings to focus on prayers, rituals, and gatherings in the Sukkah. The sukkah is a central aspect of Sukkot, and is a structure made from wood and other materials grown from the ground (though no longer attached to the ground). There are more restrictions that can be found in the Talmud on how a sukkah is built, including that it must be a temporary structure that is not fixed to the ground permanently, it must have more shade than sun (through branches placed on the top), it cannot be placed under a tree (it must be built under the open sky), and it cannot be stolen from somebody else. The tradition of dwelling in the sukkah is a representation of the temporary homes the Israelites lived in during their forty years in the desert (around the 13th century BCE), between their exodus from Egypt and their arrival at Mount Sinai, symbolizing the fragility of life and dependence on God. Sukkot is also an ancient agricultural festival which marks the end of the harvest season. It commemorates the harvest of crops and gratitude for the abundance of the land. The first two days of Sukkot (beginning this year at sundown on October 16 through sundown on October 18 in the diaspora and October 17th in Israel) are Yom Tov (יום טוב) where work is not allowed, candles are lit in the evening, and festive meals start with the Kiddush. Yom Tov is followed by Shabbat, ending at nightfall the following day. Chol Hamoed Sukkot (חול המועד) are the days of Sukkot that fall between the first two days and the last of the holiday. This time is often used for special prayers, meals, and reflection of harvest and fragility of life. Work is permitted with some restrictions, and it is a popular time to be with family and friends. The final day of Sukkot is Hoshana Rabbah (הושענא רבא), which is viewed as the last opportunity for repentance before the end of the High Holidays. Prayers known as the Hoshana (הושענא) are recited, and it is symbolically viewed as a day of judgment, the fates of the people for the coming year to be sealed by God on this day. 

Simchat Torah: October 25

שמחת תורה

Translation: “The joy of Torah”

Simchat Torah is a celebration of the completion and renewal of the annual Torah readings that take place the day after Shemini Atzeret in the diaspora, while in Israel it is celebrated on the same day. The holiday includes Aliyot, where individuals are called up to read specified sections of the Torah. The last portion of the Torah, the Deuteronomy (Devarim - דברים) is read on this day, followed by Genesis (Bereshit - בראשית), the first portion. Simchat Torah is a very joyous holiday, and Jewish communities can be seen dancing with the Torah scrolls (commonly referred to as Hakafot - הקפות) to celebrate its significance. 

• Shani Levy-Richards