PURIM
The festive occasion of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, typically during late winter or early spring. The celebration of Purim in 2020 began on the evening of Monday, March 9, and concluded on Tuesday, March 10, with Jerusalem observing it on March 11. This festival commemorates the miraculous salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot "to destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day," as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).
Upcoming dates for Purim are as follows:
March 23-24, 2024
March 13-14, 2025
March 2-3, 2026
March 22-23, 2027
THE PASSOVER
The Pesach (Passover) of Adonai was a singular event that took place many years ago. Each subsequent Pesach (Passover) serves as a memorial to Adonai (Lord), commemorating the time when the God of Israel delivered His people from the shackles of enslavement. It is during these Moadim (Appointed Times) of Adonai that Yeshua Ha Mashiach fulfilled the promise of redemption for Israel and the nations, liberating us from the transgressions that caused our separation from the Creator.
April 22-30, 2024
April 12-20, 2025
April 1-9, 2026
April 21-29, 2027
Shavuot, also known as Shavuos, translates to "weeks." This holiday marks the end of the seven-week Omer counting period that follows Passover.
Over 3,300 years ago, Yahweh God bestowed the Torah upon the Jewish people at Mount Sinai during Shavuot. Each year, the Shavuot holiday is a time when the gift of the Torah is embraced anew, and it is as if God presents the Torah once again.
The dates for Shavuot are as follows:
- June 11-13, 2024
- June 1-3, 2025
- May 21-23, 2026
- June 10-12, 2027
YOM KIPPUR
On this day, the children of Israel seek God's forgiveness for their nation's sins. The high priest enters the Most Holy Place in the Temple only once a year, offering a blood sacrifice for himself and the nation. A scapegoat is released into the desert after the nation's sins are confessed over it, symbolically removing demonic influences from the community. On this day, YHVH determines whether to forgive the children of Israel and remove their sins. Thus, Yom Kippur, pronounced "YOM KEE-poor," is a day for prayer, repentance, and liberation.
In that year, the people constructed the Tabernacle, a portable dwelling for God. The Tabernacle served as the focal point for prayers and sacrifices. The Yom Kippur service in the Tabernacle, led by the High Priest, included offering incense in the Holy of Holies and a lottery with two goats—one sacrificed and the other sent to the wilderness (Azazel).
We feel compelled to repent for our sins and intercede for those who are lost. It is a day when God either cleanses us of our sins or removes us from His Book of Life, as no sin can endure in His presence.
Yom Kippur is seen as a precursor to Judgment Day, as described in Revelation 20:11-15.
The following are the dates for Yom Kippur:
- October 11-12, 2024
- October 1-2, 2025
- September 20-21, 2026
- October 10-11, 2027
SUKKOT
Sukkot, pronounced as "sue-coat," concludes with the commencement of the distinct holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.
What is Sukkot?
Sukkot is known as the "Feast of Tabernacles."
Following repentance and redemption during Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, it is time to dwell with the Father. Sukkot, also referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a time for entering into close fellowship with the Bridegroom. The year 2020 has been unprecedented in history. Consensus among prophets suggests that our Messiah's return is imminent. Meanwhile, the United States is on the cusp of divine judgment. It is time to cast aside all distractions and seek communion with God, for we need His presence more than ever.
Some Sukkot customs and practices include building a sukkah, which is a temporary hut used for dwelling during the holiday. These booths serve as symbolic shelters, marking the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after their liberation from slavery in Egypt, as they were being prepared to enter the Promised Land. On the first (October 3) and eighth (October 10) days, there is a commandment for God's people to abstain from regular work and hold a sacred assembly.
The dates for Sukkot in the coming years are as follows:
- October 16-18, 2024
- October 6-8, 2025
- September 25-27, 2026
- October 15-22, 2027
HANUKKAH
When is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, also spelled "Chanukah," begins on the eve of the 25th of Kislev and lasts for eight days. Typically, it falls within the month of December on the civil calendar.
Hanukkah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime "festival of lights," celebrated with nightly menorah lightings, special prayers, and traditional fried foods.
The Hebrew word Hanukkah means "dedication," signifying the celebration of the re-dedication of the Holy Temple. Also known as Chanukah, the Hebrew word is pronounced with a guttural "kh" sound, kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah.
In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was under the rule of the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who attempted to force the people of Israel to adopt Greek culture and beliefs over mitzvah observance and faith in God. Defying the odds, a small group of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, waged a war of resistance.
The Maccabees, having defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, expelled the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and rededicated it to God's service. In their search to light the Temple's Menorah, they found only a single cruse of olive oil untouched by the Greeks. Miraculously, the menorah was lit, and the oil, sufficient for only one day, lasted eight days until more could be prepared with ritual purity. To celebrate and publicize these miracles, the sages established the festival of Hanukkah.
How Hanukkah Is Observed
Central to the festival is the nightly lighting of the menorah, which holds nine flames; one is the shamash ("attendant"), used to light the other eight. On the first night, one flame is lit, and an additional flame is lit each subsequent night. By the eighth night, all eight lights are kindled.
Before lighting the menorah, special blessings are recited, often set to a traditional melody, and traditional songs follow.
Menorahs are lit in every household—and by individuals within the household—and placed in doorways or windows. They are also lit in synagogues and public spaces. Recently, large menorahs have appeared in front of city halls, legislative buildings, malls, and parks worldwide.
The special Hallel prayer is recited daily, and V’Al Ha Nissim is added to daily prayers and the Grace After Meals, thanking God for "delivering the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few... the wicked into the hands of the righteous."
Hanukkah Foods
As the Hanukkah miracle involved oil, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil. The Eastern-European classic is the potato latke, topped with applesauce or sour cream. The jelly-filled sufganiyah (doughnut) is a traditional treat in Israel.
Dreidel: The Chanukah Game
During Hanukkah, playing with a "dreidel" (a four-sided spinning top inscribed with the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hei, and shin, which stand for "nes gadol hayah sham," meaning "a great miracle happened there") is a customary practice. The game involves spinning the dreidel and winning or losing a pot of coins, nuts, or other items depending on the resulting letter.
Hanukkah Gelt
While modern consumer culture emphasizes the giving of Hanukkah presents, the actual tradition involves giving "Hanukkah gelt," or money, to children. This practice encourages positive behavior and Torah study, and it provides children with the means to participate in tzedakah (charity). The tradition has also led to the creation of foil-wrapped "chocolate gelt."
Hanukkah will be observed during the following dates:
December 25, 2024 - January 2, 2025
December 14-22, 2025
December 4-12, 2026
December 24, 2027 - January 1, 2028
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