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army soldiers

What Is A Army

An army is a group of armed and equipped men joined together to fight a war on land. In an army, the soldiers are organized under the leadership of officers and commanders. The first armies were nothing more than all the men of a tribe fighting together under their chief. Then special men came to be chosen to be the soldiers in a nation. The first really organized armies were those in Egypt, more than 3,500 years ago. The early Egyptian armies were composed entirely of foot soldiers. These soldiers carried spears and bows and arrows.

Not many years later the Assyrian and Babylonian armies had not only foot soldiers, but soldiers in horse-drawn chariots. The early Greek city-states had armies that were well organized. Perhaps the greatest army of early times was led by Alexander the Great, about whom there is a separate article. His army conquered most of the civilized world of that time. The Romans, not long after the time of Alexander, had the bestorganized of all ancient armies. The men were well-trained and led by excellent officers. The Roman armies were composed of smaller groups called legions.

A legion was much like an army division today. The Roman legions were practically unbeatable. They were often outnumbered, but their training and organization were able to overcome the larger groups of the enemy. The Romans had the first army engineers, who built roads and bridges. The Romans also had the best organization for supplying food and equipment to their armies. The Roman Empire finally grew weak and fell to the barbarians. The civilized world was plunged into the Dark Ages, and the art of military organization was forgotten for centuries. During those centuries, armies were mostly groups of peasants led by mounted knights. These armies had very little organization, and were often made up of soldiers who would fight for anyone who would pay them. They usually spent more time in robbing the people than in fighting a battle.

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what is memorial day

How to Make Desserts for The Memorial Day Weekend - Apple Raisin and Memorial Chess Pies

We americans love to celebrate our holidays and our traditions often turn to food.  Memorial Day is known for parades, picnics and fun.  Don't let the holiday slip by without some wonderful dessert surprises for your family and/or friends this year.  Try something new like Memorial Chess Pie.  This old Southern Indiana pie is known as Memorial Chess Pie, in the community where I grew up, in memory of Josie who often prepared this pie for church socials and community events. Memorial Day was a day for Josie's pie.  Apple Pie is considered an American tradition and is usually found at patriotic holiday celebrations.  This year why not go out on a limb by turning the traditional pie into an Apple-Raisin Pie with a drizzle topping? 

MEMORIAL CHESS PIE
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tbsp corn meal
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 tsp vanilla

Cream together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornmeal, and flour. Add the eggs, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla, combining well. Pour the mixture into an unbaked pie shell and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake another 30 to 35 minutes until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

APPLE-RAISIN PIE
pastry for a 2-crust pie
6 med to large tart apples
1 cup seedless raisins
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out half the pastry on a floured board or surface; place pastry in a 9-inch pie pan. Gently fit pastry into pan and trim the edge.

Pare, core, and thinly slice apples; mix together with the raisins in a large bowl. Place the apples-raisin mixture into the pastry. Mix the granulated sugar, cinnamon and salt together. Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the apples and raisins. Slice butter into thin slices and evenly place over the pie mixture. Roll out the remaining half of the pastry dough and gently place over the pie filling. Cut about 3 slits in the center of the pastry to allow steam to escape. Seal the pastry edges and make a scallop design or your favorite sealing design.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is lightly browned. Allow to cool.

Mix the powdered sugar and water to make a drizzle-type glaze. Drizzle over the crust.

Enjoy!

 

About the Author

I love sharing my recipe collections with others.  Visit my desserts blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com  or my diabetic blog at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com

memorial day prayer

Acceptable Prayer

When a person runs into trouble in his or her life they are often counseled to pray. That is usually one of the very first things that are done and most certainly we ought to turn to God in our times of trouble. James says, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." (James 5:13 NAS) The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16 NAS)

What we often fail to consider is that both writers are writing to Christians, not just anyone but to God's own people. Let us take a look at some passages.

Prov. 15:8, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord." (NASU) Prov. 15:29, "The Lord is far from the wicked." (NASU) And, now get this, Prov. 28:9, "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (NASU)

God does not listen to just anyone's prayer (in the sense of heeding it). In Isaiah chapter one God is speaking to his people, people who have departed from him, through the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah says of them, "They have abandoned the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they have turned away from Him." (Isa. 1:4 NASU) Then he follows up in verse 15 speaking for God, "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen." (Isa. 1:15 NASU)

For a person's prayer to be found acceptable to God one prerequisite is to be a faithful child of his. Actually there are two prerequisites in that - (1) be a child of God and (2) be faithful. Does this mean God will not hear the prayer of one who is not a Christian?

That depends. Is the person one who is seeking God and who will, as quickly as he can learn it, believe and obey what God has to tell him? If so, like Cornelius in Acts 10, God will listen. It is said that Cornelius "prayed to God continually" (Acts 10:2 NAS) and then when the angel appears to him the angel says, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God." (Acts 10:4 NAS) As soon as Peter arrived and told Cornelius what God would have him do he believed and obeyed what he was told.

However, if you are one who is not truly seeking God, but only one who is seeking to get out of a tight spot, and there is no true repentance, then you fit into that class mentioned in Prov. 28:9, "He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination." (NAS) One must be willing to hear what God says and be willing to follow God to have his prayer considered.

Now, please do not misunderstand. One can truly repent and turn back to God even though in days gone by he had turned away. Peter told Simon, a Christian, after Simon's sin to repent and pray (Acts 8:22 NAS), the prayer coming after the repentance. The main point here is that one must be seeking God sincerely and be willing to obey him if he is to have hope that God will look favorably upon his prayer.

We know God always heard Jesus' prayers. Jesus himself said, speaking to the Father prior to raising Lazarus from the dead, "I know that You always hear Me." (John 11:42 NKJV) Elsewhere he says, "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him." (John 8:29 NAS) The blind man who Jesus restored sight to, while not an inspired man, yet says the truth in John 9:31 "We know that God does not hear sinners; but if any one is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him." (NAS) This was the settled belief of the Jews of that day and was more than just that, it was the truth. The next verse makes it certain this conclusion is correct.

John says, speaking to Christians, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight." (1 John 3:21-22 NAS)
Now, why is it we have our prayers answered? Because we keep his commandments and do those things that please God.

So far we have seen that to have effective prayer we must (1) be a child of God or one who is sincerely seeking him as Cornelius was and who will become a child of his as soon as he learns what is required, (2) be faithful if already a child of his or be one who is truly repentant from the heart, and (3) be one who is actively involved in doing the things that please God (the "be faithful" of 2 above), keeping his commandments.

The purpose of this article is to help and not to create despair thus I want to emphasize that even though a Christian has not always been faithful that does not mean God will not hear his prayer provided he sincerely repents. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalms 51:17 NASU)

What are some other things that might hinder our prayers? Well, one is what you ask for and why. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4:3 NAS) We hardly ever see things that way for to us all our requests are needs, not pleasures. We develop an expensive lifestyle and have many bills to pay and thus we consider prayers to maintain all of that as necessary and proper.

One way to measure whether or not your prayers will be pleasing to God is to ask yourself how your prayers would compare to the prayers of Jesus and the prayers of Paul. If I want my prayers to be answered I need to, as much as I can, pray like they prayed and pray for the same kinds of things. The emphasis needs to be on the spiritual.

This assuredly does not mean it is wrong to pray for the things of a this worldly existence as flesh and blood men. Jesus in teaching his disciples how to pray included this - "Give us this day our daily bread." (John 6:11 NAS) John said, "Beloved, I pray that in all respect you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." (3 John 2 NAS) [Do not let yourself get led astray with the word "prosper" here for it must be read and considered with James' passage on prayer (James 4:3). It would not be improper to pray for prosperity if it was to be used for godly purposes rather than to spend it on our pleasures. It all involves the motive. What will you do with the prosperity when you receive it?]

Then Peter tells us, as Christians, to cast all of our anxiety upon him "because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7 NAS) Oftentimes that anxiety that hits us is because of the problems other loved ones are having. Did you know it is sin not to pray for others?

Samuel said of himself in reference to the children of Israel, "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you." (1 Sam. 12:23 NKJV) Jesus says, and this is in the form of a command, "pray for those who persecute you." (Matt. 5:44 NAS) Does that leave you with a choice? Paul says, "I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity." (1 Tim. 2:1-2 NAS)

Paul says we are to imitate him, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." (1 Cor. 11:1 NAS) When we do that we will pray for others. Read 2 Cor. 13:9, Phil. 1:9, Col. 1:9, and 2 Thess. 1:11. Paul continually prayed for others and we are to imitate him.

Did Paul think those prayers would make a difference? He surely did for he asks others to pray for him. Why do so if there is nothing to be gained by prayer? He says, "Brethren, pray for us." (1 Thess. 5:25 NAS) Then in Rom. 15:30 we read, "strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." (NAS)

Prayer is actually a Christian work or labor as suggested by the word "strive." Paul, speaking of Epaphras, says to the Colossians, he is "always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers." (Col. 4:12 NAS) So prayer is a labor when we pray for others. It is a striving.

Prayer is also considered a sacrifice to God when given properly. The Hebrew writer says, "Through Him (Jesus - DS) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." (Heb. 13:15 NAS) We must remember prayer is not just about asking for things. It is also a time to give thanksgiving and praise and Glory to God.

While generally speaking we have a good idea of how to give thanksgiving to God we do not always have a good grasp on how to praise him and give him proper glory. I offer this as my personal opinion only but read the book of Psalms time and time again for it is full of David giving God glory and praise which is the very thing we all need to incorporate in our prayers. He is worthy and we are beholden to him. If one wants to learn how to pray the book of Psalms is a great place to learn. David spoke by means of inspiration and inspiration knows how to give God glory and praise pleasing and acceptable to him.

"Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (I Thess 5:17-18 NAS) "In everything give thanks" is a necessary part of acceptable prayer. We have all been around people that seem to be ungrateful. They are not naturally likable people. On the other hand find some one who seems to be exceedingly thankful and it is a joy to be in their presence and we remember them with fondness and, if possible, we find ways to do them even more good knowing they will appreciate it and we will be rewarded by their thankfulness even yet again. We are made in God's image. Do you think God does not find joy in thanksgiving to him for his kindness and blessings to us?

And then in the same passage Paul says to "pray without ceasing." Jesus had said this earlier for Luke says of him in Luke 18:1, "He (Jesus - DS) was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart." (NAS) As you recall this parable was the one of the widow who went to the judge continually until he finally granted her request "lest by continually coming she wear me out." (Luke 18:2-5) We should never give up in despair on prayer.

If one only prays once for a thing how badly does he want the thing or how badly does he need it which is a better way of phrasing it? Why does God not respond to a prayer immediately granting one's request? Since the Bible does not say we can only make a man made observation and tell the reader to take it for what it is worth which may or may not be anything.

If God was to answer every prayer immediately and positively would that not lead to him being diminished in our own eyes? Would we not have less respect and reverence for him leading to less dependence? It would be like we snap our fingers and God jumps to answer our prayer immediately and positively lest we become angry with him. In a sense we would replace him as the one who was Lord for it would be like we were giving the orders and he was our servant to serve us up with our requests as quickly as possible.

We have all seen parents who spoiled their children and we have generally seen where that leads. The kids have less and less respect for Mom and Dad. The kids come to see Mom and Dad as two individuals they have power over to manipulate anyway they desire for anything and everything they want. Would this not happen with us in our relationship with God if we were to immediately receive every request we make and that immediately?

This is not to say we ought to pray with doubt in our hearts as to God granting our request for the Bible teaches just the opposite. We must pray believing God will respond to our prayer. James says of the man who prays for wisdom but doubts that he will receive it will not receive it. Why not? Because he did not ask "in faith without any doubting." (James 1:5-6 NAS)

But, God is not to be seen as just a give me machine, a sort of ATM machine where you can make withdrawals continually without making deposits. In fact, if we want our prayers to God to be answered it is required we do our part. We cannot pray for food, clothing, and shelter and then do nothing on our part to acquire those things without work. I think James may well have been speaking of the spiritual gift of wisdom in James 1:5 (see 1 Cor. 12:8) but if I was to pray for wisdom today could I have it? Yes, but it would be granted on the basis of my commitment to study long and hard the word of God.

I recently wrote an article on healing for the brokenhearted. Of course prayer is a part of that, dependence on God. But even in that can healing be expected to be granted instantly and without effort on our part, effort to help ourselves by getting back out and socializing and making an effort to rebuild our lives?

Yes, God answers prayer but we need patience to wait on the answer rather than to expect an instant miracle. Furthermore, we should expect to find the answer through the working of God's providence in our life and there is a time factor built into that.

Space is rapidly running out so I mention briefly only a couple of other things. We cannot expect God to answer our prayers if we hold ill will toward others and will not forgive. He will not forgive our own sins if we will not forgive others. If I make myself a sinner before God by refusing to forgive others can I expect to have my prayers answered?

We have to pray for things, if we expect our requests to be answered, that are in accord with God's will. He gives only what is best as "every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17 NAS) Why pray for myself that God grant me a new half million dollar home? I don't need it and neither do you and we know what he has said about those who desire to be rich in the book of 1 Timothy (6:8-10).

What I am getting at is that if we want our prayers to be answered we need to learn to pray for the kind of things we know would please God if we asked for them. Solomon's request for wisdom to rule God's people is a perfect example of this (2 Chron 1:7-12).

Finally, it may be God's will, because it is best for us, to delay answering, in at least the way we want, for a time, for our own good. Peter says, "it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." (1 Peter 3:17 NAS) There are lessons to be learned and character to be built in suffering that can be learned in no other way and sometimes it is God's will for our good, the greater good.

On the other side of that present suffering there are blessings to be had that cannot be gotten to without first going through the suffering. Joseph could only save his family from starvation by first going through the suffering of being sold into slavery.

Suffering is a part of the Christian life to be expected. Paul suffered, Christ suffered, all that live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). Suffering is not the failure of prayer so we should not see it as that.

Books have been written on the subject of prayer. There is much more that could and should be said but this article is already too long. Do not give up on prayer. Strive hard to live a righteous life for "the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16 NAS)

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Jewish holiday

Rosh Hashanah The Jewish New Year

Main article: Rosh Hashanah

According to the Talmud and oral tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, day of memorial and the day of judgment, in which God judges each person individually according to their deeds, and makes a decree for the following year. The holiday is characterized by the special mitzvah of blowing the shofar. According to the Torah, however, this is the first day of the seventh month of the calendar year that marks the beginning of a ten day count to Yom Kippur.

For a variable number of days before Rosh Hashanah among Ashkenazim, and the entire month of Elul among Sephardim, special additional morning prayers are added known as Selichot.

Erev Rosh Hashanah (evening of the first day) 29 Elul

Rosh Hashanah ( )2 1 - Tishrei)

Rosh Hashanah is set aside by the Mishna as the new year for calculating calendar years, shmita and jubilee years, vegetable tithes, and tree-planting (determining the age of a tree).

According to an opinion in Jewish oral tradition, the creation of the world was completed on Rosh Hashanah. The recitation of Tashlikh occurs during the afternoon of the first day. Officially North American Reform Judaism celebrates two days of Rosh Hashanah, but a significant number of Reform congregations and members celebrate only one day; the non-Reform branches of Judaism celebrate it as a two-day holiday, both inside and outside the boundaries of Israel. The two days are considered together to be a yoma arichta, a single "long day".

Aseret Yemei Teshuva Ten Days of Repentance

Main article: Ten Days of Repentance

The first ten days of seventh month of the Jewish year (from the beginning of Rosh Hashana until the end of Yom Kippur) are known as the Aseret Yemei Teshuva. During this time it is "exceedingly appropriate" for Jews to practice "Teshuvah," which is examining one's deeds and repenting for sins committed against both God and one's fellow man in anticipation of Yom Kippur. This repentance can take the form of additional supplications, confessing one's deeds before God, fasting, and self-reflection. On the third day, the Fast of Gedalia is celebrated.

Yom Kippur Day of Atonement

Main article: Yom Kippur

Erev Yom Kippur 9 Tishrei

Yom Kippur ( ) 10 Tishrei

Yom Kippur is considered by Jews to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year. Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation. Eating, drinking, bathing, anointing with oil, and marital relations are prohibited. Fasting begins at sundown, and ends after nightfall the following day. Yom Kippur services begin with the prayer known as "Kol Nidrei", which must be recited before sunset. (Kol Nidrei, Aramaic for "all vows," is a public annulment of religious vows made by Jews during the preceding year. It only concerns unfilled vows made between a person and God, and does not cancel or nullify any vows made between people.)

A Tallit (four-cornered prayer shawl) is donned for evening prayers; the only evening service of the year in which this is done. The Ne'ilah service is a special service held only on the day of Yom Kippur, and deals with the closing of the holiday. Yom Kippur comes to an end with the blowing of the shofar, which marks the conclusion of the fast. It is always observed as a one-day holiday, both inside and outside the boundaries of the land of Israel.

Yom Kippur is considered, along with 15th of Av, as the Happiest days of the year (Talmud Bavli - Tractate Ta'anit).

Sukkot Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles)

Main article: Sukkot

Sukkot ( or sukkt) or Succoth is a 7-day festival, also known as the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles, or just Tabernacles. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Bible. The word sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth. Jews are commanded to "dwell" in booths during the holiday. This generally means taking meals, but some sleep in the sukkah as well. There are specific rules for constructing a sukkah. The seventh day of the holiday is called Hoshanah Rabbah.

Erev Sukkot 14 Tishrei

Sukkot ( ) 1521 Tishrei (22 outside Israel)

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah

Main article: Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah ( ) means "rejoicing with the Torah". It actually refers to a special ceremony which takes place on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret. This holiday immediately follows the conclusion of the holiday of Sukkot. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret is one day long and includes the celebration of Simchat Torah. Outside Israel, Shemini Atzeret is two days long and Simchat Torah is observed on the second day, which is often referred to by the name of the ceremony.

The last portion of the Torah is read, completing the annual cycle, followed by the first chapter of Genesis. Services are especially joyous, and all attendees, young and old, are involved.

Hanukkah Festival of Lights

Main article: Hanukkah

Erev Hanukkah 24 Kislev

Hanukkah () 25 Kislev 2 or 3 Tevet

The story of Hanukkah is preserved in the books of the First and Second Maccabees. These books are not part of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), they are apocryphal books instead. The miracle of the one-day supply of oil miraculously lasting eight days is first described in the Talmud.

Hanukkah marks the defeat of Seleucid Empire forces that had tried to prevent the people of Israel from practicing Judaism. Judah Maccabee and his brothers destroyed overwhelming forces, and rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem. The eight-day festival is marked by the kindling of lights one on the first night, two on the second, and so on using a special candle holder called a Chanukkiyah, or a Hanukkah menorah.

There is a custom to give children money,also known as "gelt" on Hanukkah to commemorate the learning of Torah in guise of Jews gathering in what was perceived as gambling at that time since Torah was forbidden. Because of this, there is also the custom to play with the dreidel (called a sevivon in Hebrew).

Tenth of Tevet

Main article: Tenth of Tevet

This minor fast day marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem as outlined in 2 Kings 25:1

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.

As a minor fast day, fasting from dawn to dusk is required, but other laws of mourning are not observed. A Torah reading and Haftorah reading, and a special prayer in the Amidah, are added at both Shacharit and Mincha services.

Tu Bishvat New Year of the Trees

Main article: Tu Bishvat

Tu Bishvat ( - " ) 15 Shevat

Tu Bishvat is the new year for trees. According to the Mishnah, it marks the day from which fruit tithes are counted each year, and marks the timepoint from which the Biblical prohibition on eating the first three years of fruit and the requirement to bring the fourth year fruit to the Temple in Jerusalem were counted. In modern times, it is celebrated by eating various fruits and nuts associated with the Land of Israel. During the 1600s, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed and his disciples created a short seder, called Hemdat haamim, reminiscent of the seder that Jews observe on Passover, that explores the holiday's Kabbalistic themes.

Traditionally, trees are planted on this day. Many children collect funds leading up to this day to plant trees in Israel. Trees are usually planted locally as well.

Purim Festival of Lots

Main article: Purim

Erev Purim and Fast of Esther known as "Ta'anit Ester" 13 Adar

Purim () 14 Adar

Shushan Purim 15 Adar

In leap years on the Hebrew calendar, Purim is observed in the Second Adar (Adar Sheni).

Purim commemorates the events that took place in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated by reading or acting out the story of Esther, and by making disparaging noises at every mention of Haman's name. In Purim it is a tradition to masquerade around in costumes and to give Mishloakh Manot (care packages, I.e. gifts of food and drink) to the poor and the needy. In Israel it is also a tradition to arrange festive parades, known as Ad-D'lo-Yada, in the town's main street. Sometimes the children dress up and act out the story of Esther for their parents.

New Year for Kings

New Year for Kings 1 Nisan.

Although Rosh Hashanah marks the change of the Jewish calendar year, Nisan is considered the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The Mishnah indicates that the year of the reign of Jewish kings was counted from Nisan in Biblical times. Nisan is also considered the beginning of the calendar year in terms of the order of the holidays.

In addition to this New Year, the Mishnah sets up three other legal New Years:

1st of Elul, New Year for animal tithes,

1st of Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah), the New Year for the calendar year and for vegetable tithes

15th of Shevat (Tu B'Shevat), the New Year for Trees/fruit tithes

Pesach Passover

Main article: Passover

Erev Pesach and Fast of the Firstborn known as "Ta'anit Bechorim" 14 Nisan

Passover (Hebrew: Pesach, ) (first two days) 15 and 16 Nisan

The "Last days of Passover", known as Acharon shel Pesach, are also a holiday commemorating K'riat Yam Suf, the Passage of the Red Sea. 21 and 22 Nisan

The semi-holiday days between the "first days" and the "last days" of Passover are known as Chol Hamo'ed, referred to as the "Intermediate days".

Passover commemorates the liberation of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. No leavened food is eaten during the week of Pesach, in commemoration of the fact that the Jews left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have enough time to rise.

The first seder begins at sundown on the 15th of Nisan, and the second seder is held on the night of the 16th of Nisan. On the second night, Jews start counting the omer. The counting of the omer is a count of the days from the time they left Egypt until the time they arrived at Mount Sinai.

Sefirah Counting of the Omer

Main article: Counting of the Omer

Sefirah ( , Sefirat Ha'Omer) Counting the Omer

Sefirah is the 49 day ("seven weeks") period between Pesach and Shavuot; it is defined by the Torah as the period during which special offerings are to be brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. Judaism teaches that this makes physical the spiritual connection between Pesach and Shavuot.

Lag Ba'omer

Main article: Lag Ba'omer

Lag Ba'omer (" ) is the 33rd day in the Omer count (" is the number 33 in Hebrew). The mourning restrictions on joyous activities during the Omer period are lifted on Lag Ba'Omer and there are often celebrations with picnics, bonfires and bow and arrow play by children. In Israel, youth can be seen gathering materials for bonfires.

Shavuot Feast of Weeks Yom HaBikurim

Main article: Shavuot

Erev Shavuot 5 Sivan

Shavuot () 6, 7 Sivan

Shavuot, The Feast of Weeks is one of the three pilgrim festivals (Shalosh regalim) ordained in the Torah, Shavuot marks the end of the counting of the Omer, the period between Passover and Shavuot. According to Rabbinic tradition, the Ten Commandments were given on this day. During this holiday the Torah portion containing the Ten Commandments is read in the synagogue, and the biblical Book of Ruth is read as well. It is traditional to eat dairy meals during Shavuot.

Seventeenth of Tammuz

Main article: Seventeenth of Tammuz

The 17th of Tammuz traditionally marks the first breach in the walls of the Second Temple during the Roman occupation.

As a minor fast day, fasting from dawn to dusk is required, but other laws of mourning are not observed. A Torah reading and Haftorah reading, and a special prayer in the Amidah, are added at both Shacharit and Mincha services.

The Three Weeks and the Nine Days

Main article: The Three Weeks

The Three Weeks: Seventeenth of Tammuz, 17 Tammuz 9 Av (Tisha B'Av)

The Nine Days: 19 Av

(See also Tenth of Tevet)

The days between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av are days of mourning, on account of the collapse of Jerusalem during the Roman occupation which occurred during this time framework. Weddings and other joyful occasions are traditionally not held during this period. A further element is added within the three weeks, during the nine days between the 1st and 9th day of Av the pious refrain from eating meat and drinking wine, except on Shabbat or at a Seudat Mitzvah (a Mitzvah meal, such as a Pidyon Haben the recognition of a firstborn male child or the study completion of a religious text.) In addition, one's hair is not cut during this period.

In Conservative Judaism, the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards has issued several responsa (legal rulings) which hold that the prohibitions against weddings in this timeframe are deeply held traditions, but should not be construed as binding law. Thus, Conservative Jewish practice would allow weddings during this time, except on the 9th of Av itself. Reform Judaism and Reconstructionist Judaism hold that halakha (Jewish law) is no longer binding, and rabbis in those movements follow their individual consciences on such matters; some uphold the traditional prohibitions and some permit weddings on these days. Orthodox Judaism maintains the traditional prohibitions.

Tisha B'av Ninth of Av

Main article: Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av ( ) 9 Av

Tisha B'Av is a fast day that commemorates two of the saddest[citation needed] events in Jewish history that both occurred on the ninth of Av the destruction in 586 BCE of the First Temple, originally built by King Solomon, and destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Other calamities throughout Jewish history are said to have taken place on Tisha B'Av, including King Edward I's edict compelling the Jews to leave England (1290) and the Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492.

Tithe of animals

New Year for Animal Tithes (Taxes) 1 Elul

This commemoration is no longer observed. This day was set up by the Mishna as the New Year for animal tithes, which is somewhat equivalent to a new year for taxes. (This notion is similar to the tax deadline in the United States of America on April 15.)

Rosh Chodesh the New Month

Main article: Rosh Chodesh

The first day of each month and the thirtieth day of the preceding month, if it has thirty days, is (in modern times) a minor holiday known as Rosh Chodesh (head of the month). The one exception is the month of Tishrei, whose beginning is a major holiday, Rosh Hashanah. There are also special prayers said upon observing the new Moon for the first time each month.

Shabbat The Sabbath

Main article: Shabbat

Jewish law accords Shabbat the status of a holiday, a day of rest celebrated on the seventh day of each week. Jewish law defines a day as ending at nightfall, which is when the next day then begins. Thus, Shabbat begins at sundown Friday night, and ends at nightfall Saturday night.

In many ways halakha (Jewish law) gives Shabbat the status of being the most important holy day in the Jewish calendar.

It is the first holiday mentioned in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), and God was the first one to observe it.

The liturgy treats Shabbat as a bride and queen.

The Torah reading on Shabbat has more sections of parshiot (Torah readings) than on Yom Kippur, the most of any Jewish holiday.

There is a tradition that the Messiah will come if every Jew observes Shabbat perfectly twice in a row.

Acharei hachagim "after the holidays"

Acharei hachagim (modern Hebrew: ) Literally: after the holidays. Used in modern Hebrew vernacular to suggest a delay. Many tasks get postponed until acharei hachagim, regardless of the proximity of the coming holiday. Acharei hachagim is considered a legitimate target date for the task in question.

Variances in observances

The denominations of Reconstructionist Judaism and Reform Judaism generally regard Jewish laws (halakha) relating to all these holidays as important, but no longer binding. Orthodox Judaism and Conservative Judaism hold that the halakha relating to these days are still normative (i.e. to be accepted as binding).

There are a number of differences in religious practices between Orthodox and Conservative Jews, because these denominations have distinct ways of understanding the process of how halakha has historically developed, and thus how it can still develop. Nonetheless, both of these groups have similar teachings about how to observe these holidays.

Reform Jews do not observe the 2nd day of Jewish holidays in the Diaspora.

New Israeli/Jewish national holidays

Since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has established four new Jewish holidays.

Yom Yerushalayim Jerusalem day

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance day

Yom Hazikaron Memorial Day

Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel Independence Day

These four days are national holidays in the State of Israel, and in general have been accepted as religious holidays by the following groups: The Union of Orthodox Congregations and Rabbinical Council of America; The United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (United Kingdom); The Chief Rabbinate of the State of Israel; All of Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism; The Union for Traditional Judaism and the Reconstructionist movement.

These four new days are not accepted as religious holidays by Haredi Judaism, which includes Hasidic Judaism. These groups view these new days as secular innovations, and they do not celebrate these holidays.

Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance day

Main article: Yom HaShoah

Yom HaShoah ( ) 27 Nisan

Yom HaShoah is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, and takes place on the 27th day of Nisan. If this date falls on a Friday, the observance is moved to the previous Thursday. If it falls on a Sunday, observance is moved to the following Monday.

Yom Hazikaron Memorial Day

Main article: Yom Hazikaron

Yom Hazikaron ( ) 4 Iyar

Yom Hazikaron is the day of remembrance in honor of Israeli veterans and fallen soldiers of the Wars of Israel. The Memorial Day also commemorates fallen civilians, slain by acts of hostile terrorism.

Yom Ha'atzmaut Israel Independence Day

Main article: Yom Ha'atzmaut

Yom Ha'atzmaut ( ) 5 Iyar

Yom Ha'atzmaut is Israel's Independence Day. An official ceremony is held annually on the eve of Yom Ha'atzmaut at Mount Herzl. The ceremony includes speeches by senior Israeli officials, an artistic presentation, a ritual march of flag-carrying soldiers forming elaborate structures (such as a Menorah, a Magen David and the number which represents the age of the State of Israel) and the lighting of twelve beacons (one for each of the Tribes of Israel). Dozens of Israeli citizens, who contributed significantly to the state, are selected to light these beacons.

Yom Yerushalaim - Jerusalem Day

Main article: Yom Yerushalayim

Yom Yerushalayim ( ) 28 Iyar

Jerusalem Day marks the 1967 reunification of Jerusalem and The Temple Mount under Jewish rule during the Six-Day War almost 1900 years after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

See also

Holidays portal

Jewish holidays 2000-2050

Public holidays in Israel

Ta'anit

Religious festival

Torah readings of Yom Tov

Hebrew calendar

Rosh Hashanah

Notes

^ "Yom Tov" is also a Jewish given name.

^ Jewish Holidays, Union for Reform Judaism, accessed October 2, 2008

^ Nachum Mohl. "The Fifteenth Av of Yom Kippur". http://www.jewishmag.co.il/136mag/tu_bav_yom_kippur/tu_bav_yom_kippur.htm. 

References

Greenberg, Irving. The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays. New York: Touchstone, 1988.

Renberg, Dalia H. The Complete Family Guide to Jewish Holidays. New York: Adama, 1985.

Strassfeld, Michael. The Jewish Holidays: A Guide and Commentary. New York: Harper & Row, 1985.

External links

Hebcal Interactive Jewish calendar with candelighting times and Torah readings.

A more detailed list of Jewish holidays

A calculator that figures out the dates of Jewish holidays in any year

Patheos - Jewish Holidays: A Primer

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