This holiday marks the miraculous victory of the Jewish people in their fight against the Greeks for religious liberty and national independence. It also marks the rededication of the Second Temple in 164 CE, after it was desecrated by Greek King Antiochus. The holiday is observed by lighting an eight-branched Hanukkah candelabra, adding a candle each night of the holiday.

Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. The holiday begins with the Seder night, when the story of Passover is retold over four cups of wine, matzah, a festive meal and songs. In the Land of Israel, this is a 7-day festival, while outside of Israel, the holiday is celebrated for 8 days.

Purim celebrates the salvation of the Jews from Haman’s decree of annihilation as described in the Scroll of Esther. This very joyous holiday is celebrated by publicly reading the Scroll of Esther, eating festive meals, giving charity to the poor, and giving food packages to friends and family. During a leap year, when a second month of Adar is added to the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated in the second Adar.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, translates to “Head of the Year,” emphasizing its pivotal role as the starting point for the annual cycle. In a symbolic reflection of the head’s control over the body, the actions taken on Rosh Hashanah hold profound significance, shaping the trajectory of the upcoming year. This holiday marks a period of divine judgment and review, when God assesses the behavior of all His subjects and determines their destinies for the approaching year.

But Rosh Hashanah is not only about personal reflection and divine judgment. It is a day when the Jewish community collectively and symbolically crowns God as the King of the Universe. This act of coronation is not merely a ceremonial gesture but a profound acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and authority over all aspects of life. The coronation underscores the deep spiritual connection and commitment of the Jewish people to God, signifying the acceptance of God’s kingship anew each year.

The blowing of the Shofar during Rosh Hashanah serves as a proclamation, declaring God as our King and affirming our devoted allegiance to Him. Although characterized by judgment, Rosh Hashanah is also imbued with the immense love that God holds for His people.

As articulated in Rosh Hashanah prayers, the day unfolds with a celestial assessment, as “all inhabitants of the world pass before God like a flock of sheep.” Decrees are made in the heavenly court, outlining the destinies of individuals, including matters of life, death, prosperity, and adversity.

Beyond the solemnity of judgment, Rosh Hashanah is a day of prayer, offering an opportunity to beseech the Almighty for a year filled with peace, prosperity, and blessings. Despite its serious undertones, it is also a joyous occasion, marked by the proclamation of G‑d as the King of the Universe. According to Kabbalistic teachings, the continued existence of the universe hinges on God’s ongoing desire for a world, a desire that is renewed as we collectively accept His kingship afresh each year on Rosh Hashanah.

This holiday is celebrated upon the culmination of counting the “omer” offering from the second night of Passover. It commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. In the Bible it is also called the Holiday of Bikkurim (first fruits). During Temple times, people would bring the first of their harvests to the Temple on Shavuot.

In the Diaspora, the holiday is two days: the first is Shemini Atzeret, where there are no special commandments or customs, and the second is referred to as Simchat Torah. In Israel, this is a one-day holiday, referred to as Simchat Torah only. While the Torah only mentions celebrating the day with special sacrifices, this holiday has become a celebration of the Torah, as the yearly cycle of Torah reading concludes and begins again on Simchat Torah.

The seven day holiday is celebrated by eating meals in a sukkah (temporary shelter), and shaking the Four Species (a citron fruit, frond of a palm tree, boughs of a willow and branches of a myrtle tree). There is an extra obligation to rejoice on this holiday.

During the ten days from Rosh HaShana to Yom Kippur, there is a special focus on repenting and self-improvement in both relationships between man and G-d and relationships between man and man. Yom Kippur is marked with a 25-hour period of fasting. Most of the day is spent praying in the synagogue.

On the holiest day of the year, in 1973, Israel’s Arab neighbors invaded the Jewish State, but G-d protected His people in a miraculous victory known as the Yom Kippur War. In our generation, non-Jews are embracing the Day of Atonement and there are at least 15 reasons why Christians fast on Yom Kippur.