Beliefnet is the leading website covering religion and spirituality. We offer a rich range of resources to help you understand and celebrate the major and minor holidays of the Jewish calendar. Learn traditional practices for each Jewish holiday, as well as contemporary interpretations of the holidays. As you move through the Jewish calendar, you'll find help with basic observances, inspiration from personal stories, and wisdom from rabbinic teachings for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B'Shevat, Purim, Passover, Lag B'Omer, Shavuot, and Tisha B'Av, as well as contemporary observances such as Yom HaShoah.
Please choose a holiday below to explore more about Jewish holidays.
HIGH HOLIDAYS
Don't know tashlich from Tishrei? Don't understand why your Jewish co-workers seem to take off an awful lot this time of year? Read this High Holiday primer.
The lessons of the Day of Atonement. By Rabbi David Wolpe
My first Sukkah provided a place to mourn and to heal after the death of my son. By Rodger Kamenetz
How I fell in love with the Torah at first sight. By Mary Blye Howe
HANUKKAH
After the candles, latkes, gelt, and gifts, what else do I want my family to take away from Hanukkah? By Lisa Schamess
Jews in every age have found their own unique meaning in Hanukkah. What's the best Hanukkah lesson for today? By Rabbi Irving Greenberg
PASSOVER
Meaning, symbolism, customs, and other Passover basics
Explore Beliefnet's interactive seder plate
Video: Watch Rabbi David Wolpe explain the heart of the Passover story.
MORE JEWISH HOLIDAYS
Learn more about Purim, Lag B'Omer, Shavuot, Tisha B'Av, Yom HaShoah, and many other Jewish holidays with Beliefnet's complete Judaism section.
