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According to Judaism, a Yom Tov is a holy day to be observed by the Jewish people that is usually derived from the Torah of the Hebrew Bible. Jewish Holidays. collectively known as Yamim Tovim, always take place in accord with the Hebrew calendar. There are a number of fast days, festival days, and remembrance days. In some cases in later epochs these holy days were established by rabbis. Jewish Holidays begin at Sundown on the Holiday Eve and add beauty to the life of the Jewish people. Chanukah (Hanukkah, Festival of Lights) is a festival that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the military victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire forces which had attempted to prevent the people of Israel from practicing Judaism.
The First and Second
Maccabees books preserved the story of Chanukah. These books are
Deuterocanonical books and not part of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). The Talmud was the first to
describe the miracle of a one day supply of oil lasting for eight days, and the
rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
During this eight day festival Jewish religious freedom and national survival is celebrated with family and friends by lighting candles together with a special menorah called hanukiah in Israel, by eating specially prepared food, by family members of all ages playing dreidel, and by gift giving. A Passover (Pesach) is a time when Jews worldwide conduct a Passover Seder with family members. The Passover Seder with its festive meal, is performed in accordance with the Mitzvot commandments of Pesach and includes: telling the Exodus story; eating extra matzah called afikoman and bitter herbs; reciting Hallel, songs of praise; drinking four cups of wine; and demonstrating acts of freedom. The Pesach Passover commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. No leavened food is eaten during Passover week.
Purim (Festival of Lots) is
a time of remembrance by the Jewish people of events written about in the "Book
of Esther" about how the Jews where saved from extinction in Persia by Esther. The survival of the Jewish
people is celebrated with reading or acting out the story of Esther, carnivals,
costumes, noisemakers, giving Mishloah Manot gifts of food baskets to the needy
and poor, and a festive meal... Continue On
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