The Jewish calendar is shaped by days of remembrance, worship, thanksgiving, repentance and celebration.
Some of these festivals were established in the Torah. Others grew from later events in Jewish history or developed through Jewish tradition. Together they help us understand the rhythm of Jewish life and many of the settings encountered in Scripture.
Explore each festival to learn where it came from, how it was observed, what it means in Jewish life, and where it helps illuminate the world of Jesus and the New Testament.
Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Assembly, is a biblical holy day that immediately follows the seven days of Sukkot. The Torah commands a sacred gathering and rest from ordinary work. In later Jewish tradition, the day became…
Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah." It celebrates the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the immediate beginning of a new cycle. The day is marked by reading, singing and joyful dancing with Torah…
Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication or Festival of Lights, remembers the Jewish victory over religious persecution and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BC. The eight-day celebration is marked today by the lighting…
Tu BiShvat, the New Year for Trees, began as a date used to determine the age of fruit trees and the proper year for tithing their produce. Over time it developed into a celebration of trees, the land…
Purim is a joyful Jewish festival that remembers the deliverance of the Jewish people from the plot of Haman as told in the book of Esther. The celebration includes reading Esther, sharing food, giving to the poor and…
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"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
