Questions tagged [chagim-holidays]
About Jewish holidays generally. However, not for use for any one specific holiday which has its own tag. Also, not for use for questions that are about holidays on which activity is restricted (exclusive of chol hamoed): for that use [yom-tov].
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How does the view that Chutzniks must have 2 days Yom Tov for spiritual reasons fit with the reason given in the Gemoro in Beitzah?
The related question refers to the view that those outside Israel need a second day Yom Tov in order to achieve the spiritual status that those in Israel can achieve in one day
It is expressed here ...
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Experience of Sukkos, Pesach or Shevuos in Yerushalayim
Do we have any historical accounting in any seifer about the Jewish people spending Sukkos, Pesach or Shevuos in Yerushalayim?
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The Regalim and the Fasts
Looking for resources --
Are there any texts which discuss the parallels between the 3 regalim and the 3 fast days in the cycle of the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash?
Off the top of my head, I can ...
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Is Isru Chag observed on different days in א"י & בחו"ל?
In other words, is Isru Chag a relative event, like Shavuot, that is actually different outside of Eretz Yisrael?
In the Bavli, Isru Chag is mentioned generically as the day after chag (citing a Tanna,...
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What is the significance of lentils in the Jewish religion?
There is off course the story of Jacob and Essau that has a serving of lentils as part of the story. What other significance does the legumes have?
As I understand it was the second most important ...
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Identify VHS about Judaism from the 80's
This video came out in the 80’s. It was an introduction to Judaism. Starts with creation, goes on to discuss all the holidays. It featured a family explaining everything about Judaism. I believe ...
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What would be a case where a shul would read from the Torah for five consecutive days? [closed]
Not including Chanukah, where we read for 8 days, or Pesach and Sukkos, where it is read for eight and nine days respectively (in Israel, 7 and 8).
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Why the dedication of the Mishkan and the Temples is not celebrated?
Traditionally we commemorate the destruction of the two Temples, falling on the same day. The dedication of the Mishkan occurred (IIRC) on the first day of Nissan, but the dedication of the first and ...
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Which Hoshana teffilot and Musaf Korbonos go with which days in Israel?
I have an Artscroll siddur which lists the different Hoshanos to say on which days of Chol Hamoed
Sukkos in America, and also in the Musaf which korbonos to say for each day, but it seems to be ...
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Any Jewish holidays especially associated with gift giving?
Many Jewish holidays seem to provide opportunities to give small tokens, especially to children. Are there any holidays, traditionally, which could especially provide reasonable justification for ...
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Mincha torah reading before a chag
What Torah reading should be read the Shabbat afternoon before a holiday, like the Shabbat afternoon before Sukkot, or the Shabbat afternoon before Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur?
Thanks..
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Why are Creation and the Mabul not commemorated independently?
Our calendar marks days and dates important to our existence but they all start from the Exodus from Mitzrayim which makes sense because
A -- that's when we started fixing a calendar that related to ...
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Holy days on the weekend [duplicate]
There are 13 holy days per year on which we must not work (outside of Israel): 2 Rosh Hashanah, 1 Yom Kippur, 4 Sukkot, 4 Pessah, 2 Shavuot. What are the minimum and maximum numbers of these days that ...
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Why do we read Leviticus 22:26-32 on the first day of Sukkot?
I'm wondering what explanations are offered (preferably by the various Rishonim), if any, as to why we read Lv. 22:26-32 on the first day of Sukkot. The latter part of the reading (23:1 and on) is ...
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Different blessing when lighting candles on Rosh Hashanah
On every holiday the blessing for candle lighting is "lehadlik ner shel Yom Tov".
Why, according to Chabad custom, specifically on Rosh Hashanah there is a distinction made and the blessing is "...
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Best way to explain to my boss that I cannot attend a team summit because it is on Rosh Hashana or any other Jewish Holiday
I have a team summit which unfortunately falls on Rosh Hashanah and I will not be able to attend.
It is not mission critical that I be there - it is more for team building but still the team spent a ...
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How are the feasts of Purim and Hanukkah justified in light of Devarim 4:2 and 13:1? [duplicate]
According to Devarim 4:2 (and 13:1), there are to be no additions to the Torah ('Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give ...
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No new "official" Jewish commemorative days?
The last "official" Jewish commemorative day was added 2000 years ago. Why can't there be any new ones (approved by ALL), considering all that's happened to Jews since?
Jewish communities have local ...
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Sources for how many days of holidays are there per year?
Specifically, I am looking for a traditional source like the Baal Haturim. I overheard that a number that I don't remember, but basically like 49 days out of the year are holy days. Is there a mesorah ...
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Why is Yom Tov Seven Days? Shavuot One?
The Three regalim got me thinking.
Firstly, why is Sukkot and Pesach specifically 7 days - what is behind this number?
Additionally, why is Sukkot and Pesach seven days long while Shavout only one?
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Was there a bracha on blowing the silver trumpet?
The Torah mentions blowing the silver trumpet at various times during the year (e.g., RH, chagim). Was there a bracha on blowing the silver trumpets?
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Why did we keep the tradition of blowing shofar but not silver trumpets?
The Torah mentions blowing both shofar and hatzotzrot (e.g., http://www.templeinstitute.org/trumpets-gallery.htm) on various occasions during the year, but today we blow only the shofar and only on ...
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What Feast Day/Holy Day is spoken of in Judith 16, and is it still observed today?
Judith 16:24-31 (DRB) And the people were joyful in the sight of the sanctuary, and for three months the joy of this victory was celebrated with Judith. 25 And after those days every man returned to ...
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Why is only Purim to be celebrated "forever"?
The Sources say that only Purim will be observed forever:
-Tanakh: "These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city. These days ...
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Practical Implications of 20 Av
Are there any changes in davening or daily practice on the 20th of Av?
The Gemara lists the date as among those which marked the donation of wood to the Temple by particular families. The 20th seems ...
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Why is emphasis put on the sparing of the Jewish people at Makas Bechoros more than at any of the other Makos?
Shmos 12:27 --------------- שמות יב כז
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֡ם זֶֽבַח־פֶּ֨סַח ה֜וּא לַֽיהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּ֠סַח
עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּמִצְרַ֔יִם בְּנָגְפּ֥וֹ
אֶת־מִצְרַ֖יִם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּ֣ינוּ ...
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Holidays Beginning at sundown of the previous day
I know that holidays begin at sundown the day before the date they are on. Do Jewish people begin to celebrate the holiday at sundown or on the date they are on? Take for example, Passover. Are any of ...
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Order of psalms in Pesukei deZimra
Both Ashkenazim and Sephardim add various psalms to Pesukei deZimra on Shabbath and on holidays. Rambam mentions Psalm 92, 136, 121–124, but are there any sources why these particular psalms were ...
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At what point are people responsible to keep a new Rabbinic holiday?
When a new Rabbinic holiday is instituted, such as Chanukah, it naturally took time for Jewish people in far away lands to learn of the new holiday, it's rules and mitzvot. It may also have taken time ...
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The why and how of Chag Ha'Ahava
What's the story/history/reason behind calling the 15th of the month Av 'Chag Ha'Ahava' ?
And why, and how was or is this 'Chag Ha'Ahava' celebrated?
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Which verse is correct? Genesis 1:14 or Leviticus 23:27? [duplicate]
Genesis 1:14 says that all Appointed Times (מועדים) are determined by the Sun and the Moon Phases. For example, all Holy Meetings (מקרא קדש) in the 1st or 7th months fall on moon phases.
However, ...
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Why is Birkas Kohanim Modified on Simchas Torah
On the morning of Simchas Torah, in the synagogue I attend, we recite Birkas Kohanim during Shacharis rather than Musaf. I asked around, and was told that because many people make Kiddush before Musaf,...
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Source for Shir Shel Yom of the Gra
There is a custom of the Gra to replace the regular shir shel yom on holidays and various other special days with a psalm specific to that day. (This custom is followed by many Nusach Ashkenaz ...
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Psalms for Festivals
There are Nuschaot (eg the Gra's) that recite specific Psalms on individual Festival days, instead of the Psalm of the day of the week. Presumably this is based on what was done in the Temple. Where ...
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Two cycles of moadim [closed]
The major moadim (as mentioned in Vayikra 23) seem to be divided into two main cycles; the Tishri cycle in the fall and the Nisan cycle in the spring. The first festival in Tishri is Rosh HaShanah, ...
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Why can't we repent every day?
I am piecing together a few different ideas so I apologize if I misstate any of them.
According to the gemara in Shabbat 153a, one should repent a day before his death:
(l) (Mishnah - R. Eliezer): ...
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What is the closing psalm at Chabad services about?
On the seventh day of Pesach I went to Chabad for morning services. I've only been there a couple times before (always on a chag), so I'm not very familiar with their customs. At the end of each of ...
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Zissin Pesach - Where does this phrase come from?
What is the history of wishing a zissin - sweet Pesach? Was this purposely created, as someone once told me, in contrast to wishing a Chag kosher vesameach?
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Why don't we say Al HaNisim on Pesach?
Why don't we say Al HaNisim on Pesach? Aren't the miracles performed at that time far more overwhelming (and explicit) than the miracles for which we do recite this?
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What is the greatest number of holiday days falling on weekdays in a year?
This is a question that can easily come up for an observant Jewish person who works in the secular world and needs to calculate how many days of vacation he or she will need to take from work for ...
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Etymologic origins of "Maimouna"
Maimouna, the day after Pesach, is probably the most well-known of the
isru chag traditions. It originated with the Jews of North Africa, and
these days Israelis honour it by making barbecues. ...
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R. Bachaye's understanding of why Sukkos is split up in the Pesukim
(All quotes are from Parshas Emor, Vayikra 23.)
In pesukim 33-36, the Mitzvah of the karbanos on Sukkos in mentioned. In verses 37-38, the Torah records the concluding line of Eileh Moadei... which ...
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Holidays in the future
There is a tradition that in the Messianic era,
Our Sages teach that when the Messiah arrives the festivals will cease to be observed, but Purim will continue to be observed. The Midrash (Mishlei ...
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Yom tov sheni in Eretz Yisroel list
Does anyone have a list of the major positions taken by poskim about Yom tov sheni for Bnei Chutz Laretz in Eretz Yisroel (e.g. [1] No recognition of YT sheni, [2] YT sheni kept exactly as in Chutz ...
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If someone sent you an email during Shabbat, is it okay to read it after Shabbat?
Is reading an email (on a day other than Shabbat or a holiday in which melachah is forbidden) written and sent to you by someone on Shabbat or the holiday halachically permitted?
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Why does Sukkot have an individualized Harachaman insert in Bentching, but not Pesach or Shavuot?
We have הרחמן הוא יקים לנו את סוכת דוד הנופלת for Sukkot. But for Pesach and Shavuot, there's one generic הרחמן הוא ינחילנו את יום שכולו טוב. Why?
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Why some biblical holidays don't occur on certain days of the week?
I looked on the Hebcal website to see when the Erev Pesach will occur in the future (and also looked at the past), but found out that it's never a thursdag or sunday, did the Erev Pesach ever was or ...
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Asking/Answering non-Chag-related questions on Mi.Yodeya during Chol Hamoed
I don't know the Chol Hamoed laws at all well, but my impression is that practical/avoda- and melacha-type stuff that is not either related to the holiday, nor done to prevent loss, is generally ...
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How to repent for sins on "festive" days?
On certain days of the year, viduy may not be recited (month of nissan, hol hamoed, rosh hodesh, etc.). If one did make a sin on one of these days, how can he/she repent for the sin on that same day?
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Chasidic Sefarim on the Moadim
I am looking for a comprehensive list of Chasidic sefarim which deal with every one of the Moadim, in terms of Machshava/Hashkafa. One I know of so far which meets this criteria is Pri Tzaddik by Rav ...
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