Judaism

Judaism is a monotheistic faith. Followers believe that God entered into covenant with Abraham, and it was later renewed with Moses and the Jewish people to reveal his laws and teachings through Torah. The Jewish people practice these teachings in their worship and customs. The synagogue is their place of worship. Jewish people observe the Sabbath weekly, beginning at sunset on Friday and ending at sunset on Saturday. It is the time for spiritual reflection for adherents and they suspend work for the day. Followers of the faith may pray three times – morning, afternoon and night – each day. Many poeple of Jewish faith observe kashrut (or kosher) dietary rules. The Jewish faith is divided into grounds depending on adherents’ religious beliefs and practices. Some of these include Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. The Jewish calendar is a combined lunar and solar calendar. The holy days may be celebrated either for a day or over two days based on adherents’ religious beliefs.

Also known as Hanukkah, Chanukah means dedication. This eight day festival known as the Festival of Lights is celebrated for eight days, starting at sundown on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev. On each day of the festival, a candle is lit in a menorah to commemorate the victory of Judah the Maccabee and religious freedom, as well as the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE. Suspension of work is not required.

This eight day celebration commemorates the departure of Israelites from Egypt. The first two and the last two days are holidays for Orthodox Jewish people. Festive meals are enjoyed and the telling of the Passover story occurs on the first and second evenings (Seder).

This day celebrates victory over an oppressive ruler. The Book of Esther is read at this time as it is related to the celebration. Suspension of work is not required.

This day marks New Year's Day and the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is the first of the Ten Days of Awe when Jewish people reflect on their actions of the past year and ask for forgiveness for any transgressions.

Shavuot (also known as Pentecost) marks the end of the seven weeks that follow Pesach. It is a commemoration of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and is celebrated for one or two days, depending on the followers’ beliefs.

Shemini Atzeret is the eighth day of Sukkot, but it is also considered its own festival. This day is reserved for the joy of the festival and for the prayers for rain.

This is the ninth day of Sukkot, which celebrates and marks the end of the annual Torah reading and the beginning of a new cycle.

Also called the Feast of Booths, this eight-day festival begins five days after Yom Kippur and is a joyous celebration. This festival commemorates the end of the forty year wandering of the Jewish people and also the gathering of the harvest. Devotees abstain from work at the start and end of the festival.

The ninth of the month of Av is a major fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in ancient times. 

Yom HaShoah is a day set aside for people of Jewish faith to remember the Holocaust. The name comes from the Hebrew word 'shoah', which means 'whirlwind'. Yom Hashoah was established in Israel in 1959 by law. It falls on the twenty-seventh of the Jewish month of Nissan, a date chosen because it is the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

Yom Hashoah ceremonies include the lighting of candles for Holocaust victims, and listening to the stories of survivors. Religious ceremonies include prayers such as Kaddish for the dead and the El Maleh Rahamim, a memorial prayer. In Israel Yom HaShoah is one of the most solemn days of the year.

Also known as Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur is the year's holiest day. It is a day of reflection, prayer and atonement. To re-establish oneness with God, Jewish people ask for forgiveness and forgive others. Then they can confess their sins and ask God for forgiveness. Followers fast from the evening of previous day and visit the synagogue for prayers and confession.