Jewish Holidays
Passover: 15th of Nisan (spring, March-April)
The Passover in Hebrew is known as Pesach. It begins in the Sunset of Monday, April 10, 2017, and ends at the nightfall of Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The Pesach is depicted in the book of Exodus 12:23. It describes the day when God passed over Israelites. During the Passover, the Israelites usually celebrate their Liberation from the Egyptian bondage. This is when God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The Passover is also considered to be one of the most theologically important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It normally goes for eight days but in other communities, it lasts for only one week. The Jews are prohibited to eat any bread or leavened food. They are only allowed to eat unleavened bread and traditional foods made of ground matzah referred to as matzah meal. Such foods may include gefilite fish, ponge cake cakes and cookies made from Nuts and macaroons (Hexham, 89). Other activities comprise of the Jewish reading the Haggadah to retell the story of the Exodus and their migration from Egypt. During the Passover, the firstborns of Israel must fast to thank God for being merciful and sparing them. The seventh day usually marks the day they crossed the Red Sea. On the last day, the Yizkor memorial prayer is recited for dead.

Feast of Weeks: Shavuot
Shavuot begins in the sunset of Saturday, June 11, 2016, and ends at the nightfall of Monday, June 13, 2016. The name Shavuot is a Hebrew name that means Weeks because it depicts the traditional counting of the weeks between Passover and Shavuot. During this period, the Israelites celebrate the giving of the Ten Commandments referred to as the Torah. They are read in Synagogues the same manner they were read on Mount Sinai. During the Shavuot, farmers must bring the first fruits harvested from their four-year-old tree (Olitzky et al. 123). It occurs as a one day holiday in Israel. Rather, the Orthodox and other conservative Jewish celebrate it for two days. Traditionally, Dairy food is taken in the Shavuot. One most important food that is common is the blintzes. It is symbolized by the Ten Commandments tablets and blintzes. Other important activities that take place during this major holiday include confirmation ceremonies during which teenagers regurgitate their Jewish beliefs. Some Jewish undertake the mystical tradition of an all-night study session which is called the Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Olitzky et al. 102).
Sabbath: Friday at sundown until sundown Saturday
It takes pace once in a week and normally lasts before sundown on Friday for 18 minutes until after sundown on Saturday evening for One hour. Sabbath involve a day of rest and enjoyment that takes place at the end of every week. Religiously it is taken as an imitation of God because he rested on the seventh day after creation. During the Sabbath, the Jewish eat delicious foods such as two loaves of special bread, a braided egg bread called Challah, a custom stew called hamin or cholent (Hexham, 96). Food is prepared over night because there is no working on Saturday. Activities encompass lighting of candles special synagogue services and meal blessings. There is no working whatsoever in Sabbath. It is symbolized by Candles, wine, hallah, and flowers. Shabbat Shalom is the Official greeting meaning peaceful Sabbath. (Hexham, 91).
High Holy Days (Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year)
The Rosh Hashana marks the Jewish New Year. It represents the anniversary of Adam and Eve creation and a day of coronation and judgment. It begins in the sunset of Sunday, October 2, 2016, and ends at the nightfall of Tuesday, October 4, 2016. Sweet foods like apple and honey are taken during this period. The main activities comprise the sounding of the Shofar, ram’s horn (Hexham, 89). The Jewish also utilize the period to mend broken relationships and apologies for the mistakes made during the period year. It is symbolized by the Ram’s horn, apple, and wine. The Rosh Hashana marks a period of repentance that leads to Yom Kippur (Olitzky et al. 137).

Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur is a Hebrew name meaning the Day of Atonement. It is the holiest days in the Jewish Calendars that marks a day of fasting, prayer, and collective confession. It begins in the sunset of Tuesday, October 11, 2016, and ends at the nightfall of Wednesday, October 12, 2016. They totally do not eat food as it is a day of fast. Children younger than 13 years old and the ill are the only people allowed to eat. In addition to all the activities involving fasting, other activities entail no drinking, washing, no having sexual relationships, no wearing leather materials. It is a day when the Jewish go to the Synagogues to pray and read the book of life. Other go to memorial services called the Yizkor to honor the dead relatives. It is symbolized by white clothing and sneakers groomed with a dress. The official greeting is Shanah Tovah or hatima tovah meaning Happy New Year in Hebrew (Olitzky et al. 143).

Sukkot: Feast of Tabernacles
It is also known as Booths, tabernacles or Sukkah in singular form. It originates from the ancient times whereby it was a pilgrimage holiday for the harvest celebration when temple mounted in Jerusalem. In the present time, it coincides with the harvest. It begins in the sunset of Sunday, October 16, 2016, and ends at the nightfall of Sunday, October 23, 2016. There is no specific food taken in this day (Hexham, 67). The main activities include building the sukkah or hut in the back yard, ritual involving waving the etrog, a palm branch with myrtle and willow. It is symbolized by the sukkah, lulav, and etrog.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Hebrew name meaning Dedication. It marks a commemoration of an 8-day holiday, the recapture of the Jewish and the temple rededication in Jerusalem in 164 BCE. It begins on Saturday, December 24, 2016, and ends on Sunday, January 1, 2017. Fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot are eaten. The min activities comprise lighting candles in hanukkiah ceremonial lamps. It is symbolized by Menorah, dreidel, and candles. (Hexham, 130).

Works Cited
Hexham, Irving. Understanding World Religions. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2011. Internet source.
Olitzky, Kerry M, and Daniel Judson. Jewish Holidays: A Brief Introduction for Christians. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Pub, 2006. Print.