The Jewish New Year, in the autumn. Families dip apples in honey for a sweet new year.
Shofar
shoh-FAR
A horn made from an animal’s horn, most often a ram’s. It is blown on Rosh Hashanah to welcome the new year.
Yom Kippur
yohm kee-POOR
A quiet, serious day on the tenth day of the new year. People think about how to do better and say sorry.
Sukkot
soo-KOTE
A happy autumn holiday. Families build a hut with a leafy roof, called a sukkah, and eat meals in it.
Hanukkah
HAH-nuh-kah
A winter holiday of lights. Families light one more candle each night for eight nights and eat foods fried in oil, like latkes.
Tu BiShvat
too bish-VAHT
The birthday of the trees, in winter. People plant trees and eat fruit.
Purim
POO-rim
A happy late-winter holiday. Children wear costumes and shake noisemakers called groggers when the story is told.
Passover
In Hebrew, Pesach (PAY-sahkh)
A spring holiday with a special meal called a seder. Families retell the story of leaving Egypt and eat flat matzah.
Shavuot
shah-voo-OTE
An early-summer holiday that celebrates the Torah. Many families eat cheese and other dairy foods.
Shabbat
shah-BAHT
A day of rest every week, from Friday at sundown to Saturday night. Families light candles and share a braided bread called challah.
For families: These are the holidays on the Wheel of the Jewish Year, plus Shabbat in the middle. The Jewish calendar counts its months by the moon, so the holidays fall on different dates each year. Try this at home: when one comes around, look up a food families eat on it and make it together.
K–5 Lesson