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 ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
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29 views

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?
TheInquisitiveJew's user avatar
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0 answers
44 views

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 ...
rosends's user avatar
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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,...
Tamar Marvin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
114 views

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 ...
Neil Meyer's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
109 views

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 ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
142 views

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).
DeVine's user avatar
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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 ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
66 views

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 ...
ak0000's user avatar
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2 answers
338 views

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 ...
mttpgn's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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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..
Debbie's user avatar
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3 votes
0 answers
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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 ...
rosends's user avatar
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0 answers
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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 ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
103 views

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 ...
LuxuryMode's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
168 views

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 "...
user16403's user avatar
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16 votes
4 answers
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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 ...
javadev's user avatar
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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 ...
Clifford Durousseau's user avatar
-2 votes
2 answers
99 views

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 ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
68 views

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 ...
Kfir's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
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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?
Avi M's user avatar
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0 answers
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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?
Yehuda W's user avatar
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5 votes
1 answer
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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 ...
Yehuda W's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
492 views

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 ...
SolaGratia's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
337 views

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 ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
93 views

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 ...
rosends's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
190 views

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 ...
RibbisRabbiAndMore's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ...
Christian Sirolli's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
164 views

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 ...
Kazi bácsi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
139 views

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 ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
169 views

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?
Levi's user avatar
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-2 votes
3 answers
102 views

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, ...
Ryan's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
272 views

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,...
Chaim's user avatar
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11 votes
1 answer
793 views

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 ...
Joel K's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
171 views

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 ...
Mark Symons's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
56 views

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, ...
Levi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
138 views

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): ...
rosends's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
558 views

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 ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
135 views

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?
Neil Fleischmann's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
248 views

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?
RCW's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
725 views

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 ...
Daniel's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
120 views

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. ...
SAH's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
43 views

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 ...
DonielF's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
114 views

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 ...
rosends's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
218 views

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 ...
huddie96's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
584 views

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?
mil's user avatar
  • 1,955
2 votes
1 answer
147 views

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?
user13108's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
145 views

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 ...
Levi's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
64 views

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 ...
SAH's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
99 views

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?
Ani Yodea's user avatar
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1 vote
5 answers
127 views

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 ...
Chaim's user avatar
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