Passover
What is passover?
commemorates the Israelites' liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt -overview of story
What is the story of Purim?
Queen Esther, who, along with her cousin Mordecai, risked their lives to reveal the plan of Haman, an advisor to the Persian king, to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther's courageous act and the king's subsequent reversal of Haman's decree led to the Jews' survival and a joyous celebration, which is commemorated on Purim.
What does Rosh Hashannah mean in english?
head of the year
What is the story of Hanukkah?
celebrates the Maccabees, who defeated the Greek Empire.
the miracle of the oil: a small supply that miraculously burned for eight days, instead of one
What is a mezuzah?
a small parchment scroll, usually encased in a decorative case, containing the Shema prayer written by a scribe
What is the prayer over the wine/grape juice?
Kiddush
What are some common foods we eat on Purim?
hamantaschen (triangular pastries filled with poppy seeds, fruit preserves, or other fillings), kreplach (dumplings), and challah (sweet bread)
What holiday comes 10 days after rosh hashanah?
Yom Kippur
What is the name of the candle used to light the other candles
shamash
What is a Hamsa?
a palm-shaped symbol representing protection and good fortune
Why do we lean while eating for passover?
as a symbolic gesture of freedom from slavery in Egypt and to avoid choking
How long did queen esther fast for?
she fasted for 3 days
Why do we throw bread in the river?
to cast away sins (the ducks eat it)
This is a ritual called Tashlich, where you symbolically cast away your sins by tossing bread into a flowing body of water
What is the difference between Menorah vs hanukiah?
Menorah is has 6 candles
hannukiah has 9 candles
What does lechaim mean?
to life
Why do eat matzah?
to commemorate the hasty departure of the Israelites from Egypt, when they didn't have time for their bread to rise
Why do we wear costumes for purim?
to symbolize the hidden miracles and the disguise of Jewish identities within the story of Esther
What are some traditional foods we eat for rosh hashanah (4)?
apples and honey, pomegranates, and round challah, fish head
What are some common foods we eat for Hanukah? (3)
Latkes, applesauce, Sufganiyot, gelt
What is a bar/bat mitzvah and what does it mean in hebrew?
coming-of-age ceremonies in Judaism, marking the transition of a young person into adulthood and the responsibility of observing Jewish religious commandments
son/daughter of commandment
What are the foods on the seder plate?
a roasted bone (zeroa), a roasted egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror and chazeret), a sweet paste (haroset), and a vegetable (karpas)
What does purim mean?
lots (dice)
Why do we blow the shofar?
It's a call to introspection and a call to prayer, reminding us to examine our past and strive for improvement.
What do the hebrew letters on the dreidels mean in english?
Nes Gadol Hayah Sham - a great miracle happened there
What is the holiest site in Judaism (current day)
the western wall (left over from the 2nd temple)