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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261002
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261003
DTSTAMP:20260420T101316
CREATED:20260107T043713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043713Z
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SUMMARY:Last Day of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah)
DESCRIPTION:Considered the end of the “Days of Judgment\,” Hoshana Rabbah marks the completion of Sukkot and features a special ceremony with willow branches. \nIs Hoshana Rabbah a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, some Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Hoshana Rabbah?\nHoshana Rabbah is celebrated on the 21st day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. \nStriking of the Willows\nDuring Hoshana Rabbah services\, the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and held above the temple´s bimah or Torah reading table. The congregation then makes a procession of seven circuits around the bimah while reciting special Hoshaanot prayers. \nTraditionally\, each worshiper holds a lulav and etrog\, or bundle of branches from date palm\, myrtle\, willow\, and citron trees during this procession. \nAt the conclusion of the circuits\, a bundle of five willow branches is beaten on the earth five times to symbolize the elimination of sin and as a prayer for good rainfall and bountiful crops in the coming year. \nAfterward\, a festive meal is often served in a sukkah\, an outdoor shelter specially built for the Sukkot holiday. Bread and honey are often served\, along with triangular kreplach dumplings filled with ground beef or chicken. \nA Final Chance to Change Fate\nHoshana Rabbah is thought of as the end of a period known as the Days of Judgment that begins on Rosh Hashanah\, continues through Yom Kippur\, and ends on the last day of Sukkot. \nSome ancient scholars held that divine judgment for the coming year is decided on Yom Kippur\, but not delivered until the day of Hoshana Rabbah. So the belief is that there is still a chance to influence the final verdict on one’s fate up until this time. \nJews often greet each other with a special blessing on this holiday using the Aramaic “pitka tava\,” or Yiddish “a guten kvitel\,” both translating as a hope that the divine verdict will be positive. \nThere are some small variations in traditions for Hoshana Rabbah. Sephardic Jewish communities include prayers for forgiveness known as selichot before services\, and some congregations include shofar or ram´s horn soundings with the processions. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/last-day-of-sukkot-hoshana-rabbah/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261003
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261004
DTSTAMP:20260420T101316
CREATED:20260107T043844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043844Z
UID:6882-1790985600-1791071999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Shmini Atzeret
DESCRIPTION:Often thought of as the eighth day of Sukkot\, Shemini Atzeret is considered a time for Jewish people to renew their connection with divinity. \nIs Shemini Atzeret a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Shemini Atzeret?\nShemi Atzeret is celebrated on the twenty-second day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between late September and early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is immediately followed by Simchat Torah. \nTo Tarry with the Divine\nOn the first night after the holiday of Sukkot\, the opening blessing Shehecheyanu is recited\, signaling the start of Shemini Atzeret\, which is both a new holiday and one that is connected to Sukkot. \nDrawn from the Hebrew words for “eighth” (Shemini) and “assembly” (Atzeret)\, the name of this holiday is also related to the idea of atzor\, “a pause or tarry.” Many scholars of Judaism believe this to be a time for people to pause or tarry and spend more time with God after the seven days of Sukkot celebrations during the previous week. \nSome rabbinic teachers explain the nature of this holiday with a parable of a king who calls in his sons to stay with him for some days. When the time comes for them to leave\, he asks them to stay on for yet another day\, since it is so difficult for him to part from them. Some see a metaphor in this for the relationship between God and the Jewish people. \nA Just Rain\nOne feature of Shemini Atzeret is the prayer for rain and a good harvest that is traditionally recited as a reading from the torah scrolls on this date. Some scholars believe this tradition is related to the idea that Shimini Atzeret comes shortly after the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur\, so worshippers are asking for the gift of rain at a time when they are cleansed of sin. \nIn Talmudic literature\, there is a concept that rain is metaphorical for God’s justice and this benevolence is meted out on the basis of worthiness. With this in mind\, Seimini Atzeret is seen as the best time to pray for rain. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/shmini-atzeret-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261005
DTSTAMP:20260420T101316
CREATED:20260107T043856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043856Z
UID:6886-1791072000-1791158399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Simchat Torah
DESCRIPTION:Immediately following Shemini Atzeret\, Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) celebrates the start of a new year of scripture readings. \nIs Simchat Torah a Public Holiday?\nWhile Simchat Torah is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Simchat Torah?\nSimchat Torah is celebrated on the twenty-third day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between late September and early October in the Gregorian calendar. \nRejoicing with the Torah\nJewish study of the scriptures\, or Torah\, is structured as a yearly cycle. This holiday marks the end of the past year´s cycle of Torah readings and the start of a new one. In general\, Simchat Torah is considered a part of the Shemini Atzeret holiday\, which follows Sukkot in the Jewish calendar. \nDuring Simchat Torah services\, the ark containing the holy scriptures is opened and the Torah scrolls are taken out to be carried around the sanctuary seven times in circuits known as hakafot. The worshipers dance and sing in celebration as the scrolls are borne around the synagogue. \nIn more religious communities\, this joyous communion with the Torah can continue for hours\, and the celebration can spill out into the surrounding neighborhood. \nTraditionally\, the crowd of worshippers sing out with Torah poems\, biblical chants\, praises of God\, and prayers to re-establish the Temple in Jerusalem. Children are often given sweets to eat and flags to wave as part of the festivities. \nAliyah\nOn the day of Simchat Torah\, worshippers are invited to come to the altar (bimah) to read a segment from the Torah and recite a special prayer. This practice is called aliyah. \nChildren are often called up to a special Simchat Torah aliyah called Kol HaNe’arim. For this rite\, a prayer shawl\, or tallit\, is often spread over the heads of the children\, and Jacob’s blessing is read: “May the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths\, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers\, Abraham and Isaac\, and may they multiply abundantly like fish\, in the midst of the land.” \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/simchat-torah-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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