Minor Modern Holy Days and Celebrations

Purim is certainly one of the most entertaining of all the Jewish holidays. It celebrates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination by Haman, the favourite nobleman of Xerxes, King of Persia through the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther (later Queen of Persia). It is noisy and raucous, the idea being that each time the name of Haman is read out from the Book of Esther, his name can’t be heard

Yom Hashoah was established in Israel in 1959 by law and is observed by Jewish people throughout the world. Although not a religious festival, it is one of the most solemn days in the year, with memorial events held by Jewish communities around the world. A major national ceremony is held at Yad Vashem (the Jewish people’s memorial to the Six Million murdered by the Nazis) in Jerusalem, Israel

It coincides with the Hebrew date when Israel was established in 1948 and is an especially big national holiday of celebration in Israel. It is also marked by Jewish people throughout the world

In modern Israel, this day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day and trees are planted in celebration

Because of the sin of the Golden Calf, the idol made by Aaron during Moses' absence up Mount Sinai, the holiday was taken away from the men and given to women as a reward for their refusal to participate in the creation of the Golden Calf

Religious Jewish families in particular will build an open air structure in which to spend time, or depending upon the climate, live in during the holiday. The “hut” should have a roof of branches and leaves, through which those inside can see the sky, and it should be a temporary and flimsy structure. It remembers the years Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land after leaving Egypt

This was at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire of the 2nd century. It is observed for eight nights and days, with a kindling of the candles on a unique candelabrum, the eight-branched (or nine if the ‘attendant’ candle for lighting the other eight is included) “menorah” or “hanukiah”, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night

Shavuot is sometimes called the Jewish Pentecost which refers here to the count of fifty days after Passover. The Christian festival of Pentecost also has its origins in Shavuot

It also commemorates other misfortunes to have befallen the Jewish people over time. The main activity is the chanting of the book of Lamentations for those who attend synagogue. It is the only Jewish festival where it's traditional that people don’t greet one another during it

Although the beliefs of the denominations vary slightly, all Jewish holy days and festivals are celebrated in much the same way throughout Judaism. The main difference will be the differing levels of observance, for example, Reform Jews will drive to synagogue on the Sabbath, whereas Orthodox Jews will not; ultra-orthodox married Jewish ladies will keep their hair covered at all times, modern Orthodox married Jewish ladies don’t bother