Jewish Festivals

Question 1

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 1

Jewish New Year

Question 2

Why is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Answer 2

1. It is a mitzvah ‘a sacred assembly’
2. It has been celebrated since biblical times. A way to connect with their heritage.

Question 3

What are 3 features of Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 3

1. The shofar is blown. To represent the crying of souls about past sins. ‘commemorated with trumpet blasts’
2. Tashlich ceremony. Symbolically throw sins into the water. ‘cast their sins into the sea.’
3. Kiddush with honey. Expresses the hope for good deeds.

Question 4

Why is Rosh Hashanah important?

Answer 4

1. The day the book of life is opened. This is when the quality of people’s lives is written ‘this day of life’
2. A time to reflect on past sins and reconcile with God.

Question 5

What is Yom Kippur?

Answer 5

The Day of Atonement

Question 6

Why is Yom Kippur celebrated?

Answer 6

1. It has been commanded in the Torah. ‘hold a sacred assembly’
2. It is a time to atone for sins.

Question 7

What are 3 features of Yom Kippur?

Answer 7

1. Kol Nidrei. Public confession of sins to reconcile with God.
2. 25 hour fast to earn forgiveness.
3. People do not wear jewellery as it has been forbidden in Leviticus

Question 8

Why is Yom Kippur important?

Answer 8

1. Jews who deny themselves on YK ‘must be cut off’ because it is a mitzvot.
2. Frees them from guilt.
3. Encourages self discipline so that they can keep their resolutions.

Question 9

What is Sukkot?

Answer 9

Festival of Booths

Question 10

Why is Sukkot celebrated?

Answer 10

1. It is commanded in the mitzvot. ‘celebrate to the Lord’
2. It reminds them of the Exodus. This reminds them how God protected his people.

Question 11

What are 3 features of Sukkot?

Answer 11

1. Make an outdoor sukkah to remind them of how the Israelites lived in the wilderness. ‘live in booths’
2. Carry an etrog, as commanded in the mitzvah. ‘take a choice fruit.’
3. Wave the lulav in all directions

Question 12

Why is Sukkot important?

Answer 12

1. It is a link with the Israelites , reinforces the idea that they are connected to an ancient people ‘the Israelites lived in booths’
2. It symbolises harmony, with families live in the sukkah as a unit.

Question 13

What is Pesach?

Answer 13

7 day festival in spring that removes all yeast

Question 14

Why is Pesach celebrated?

Answer 14

1. Remembers how God saved the Israelites and gave them freedom. Shows how God saved his people.
2. It is a mitzvoh. ‘Lord’s Passover begins at twilight.’

Question 15

What are features of Pesach?

Answer 15

1. Candles are lit in the home
2. Seder meal is eaten, eaten in an order as set out in the hagadah festival.
3. No yeast is eaten, it is a miztvoh. ‘no yeast in your house.’

Question 16

Why is Pesach important?

Answer 16

1. Celebration of God’s power over history, without Passover and Exodus there would be no Jewish people.
2. Festival of freedom, condemnation of slavery.

Question 17

What is Shavuot?

Answer 17

Feast of Weeks

Question 18

Why is Shavuot celebrated?

Answer 18

1. It is a mitzvot. ‘place the basket before your Lord.’
2. Thanks God for the goft of the Torah. At Shavuot Moses was given the Torah.

Question 19

What are features of Shavuot?

Answer 19

1. Greenery is placed around the synagogue. Mt Sinai blossomed after the Torah given. ‘take some of first fruits’
2. Everyone goes to the synagogue, to hear the decalogue recited.
3. Candles are lit.

Question 20

Why is Shavuot celebrated?

Answer 20

1. The gift of the Torah is the most important. Gives them their identity.
2. Completes the Pesach. Pesach gives physical freedom and Shavuot gives spiritual freedom.