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As we enter the Jewish year 5784, it’s worth exploring the months of the Jewish calendar. The Jewish calendar is a lunar calendar, meaning that it’s based on the cycles of the moon. This means that each month starts with the new moon and lasts for around 29 or 30 days. In total, there are 12 months in the Jewish calendar, each with its own unique significance and traditions.
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The First Month: Nissan
The first month of the Jewish calendar is Nissan. It’s a month of new beginnings and is considered the most important month of the year. It’s the month in which the Jewish people were freed from slavery in Egypt and the month in which the holiday of Passover is celebrated.
Q: What is Passover?
A: Passover is a holiday that commemorates the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in Egypt. It’s celebrated by eating matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and retelling the story of the exodus from Egypt.
The Second Month: Iyar
The second month of the Jewish calendar is Iyar. It’s a month of healing and is associated with the counting of the Omer, a 49-day period between Passover and the holiday of Shavuot.
Q: What is Shavuot?
A: Shavuot is a holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, the Jewish holy book, on Mount Sinai. It’s celebrated by studying Torah and eating dairy foods.
The Third Month: Sivan
The third month of the Jewish calendar is Sivan. It’s the month in which Shavuot is celebrated, and it’s also associated with the giving of the Ten Commandments.
Q: What are the Ten Commandments?
A: The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and ethical guidelines given to the Jewish people by God on Mount Sinai. They include commandments such as “Thou shalt not kill” and “Thou shalt not steal.”
The Fourth Month: Tammuz
The fourth month of the Jewish calendar is Tammuz. It’s a month of mourning and is associated with the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
Q: What are the First and Second Temples?
A: The First and Second Temples were the central places of worship for the Jewish people in ancient times. They were both destroyed by invading armies, the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the Second Temple by the Romans in 70 CE.
The Fifth Month: Av
The fifth month of the Jewish calendar is Av. It’s also a month of mourning and is associated with the destruction of the First and Second Temples, as well as other tragedies in Jewish history.
Q: What other tragedies are associated with the month of Av?
A: Other tragedies associated with the month of Av include the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 and the start of World War I in 1914.
The Sixth Month: Elul
The sixth month of the Jewish calendar is Elul. It’s a month of introspection and is associated with the upcoming High Holy Days.
Q: What are the High Holy Days?
A: The High Holy Days are a period of repentance and reflection in the Jewish calendar. They include the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Seventh Month: Tishrei
The seventh month of the Jewish calendar is Tishrei. It’s the most holy month of the year and is associated with the High Holy Days.
Q: What is Rosh Hashanah?
A: Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It’s celebrated by blowing the shofar, a hollowed-out ram’s horn, and eating symbolic foods such as apples dipped in honey.
Q: What is Yom Kippur?
A: Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement in the Jewish calendar. It’s a day of fasting and repentance, and is considered the holiest day of the year.
The Eighth Month: Cheshvan
The eighth month of the Jewish calendar is Cheshvan. It’s a month of no major holidays or fasts, and is sometimes referred to as “Mar Cheshvan,” or “Bitter Cheshvan.”
The Ninth Month: Kislev
The ninth month of the Jewish calendar is Kislev. It’s the month in which the holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated.
Q: What is Hanukkah?
A: Hanukkah is a holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It’s celebrated by lighting the menorah, a special candelabra, and eating foods fried in oil such as latkes and sufganiyot.
The Tenth Month: Tevet
The tenth month of the Jewish calendar is Tevet. It’s a month of mourning and is associated with the fast of the 10th of Tevet, which commemorates the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians.
Q: What is the fast of the 10th of Tevet?
A: The fast of the 10th of Tevet is a minor fast day in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the start of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
The Eleventh Month: Shevat
The eleventh month of the Jewish calendar is Shevat. It’s the month in which the holiday of Tu B’Shvat is celebrated.
Q: What is Tu B’Shvat?
A: Tu B’Shvat is a holiday that celebrates the “New Year for Trees.” It’s celebrated by eating fruits and nuts and planting trees.
The Twelfth Month: Adar
The twelfth month of the Jewish calendar is Adar. It’s the month in which the holiday of Purim is celebrated.
Q: What is Purim?
A: Purim is a holiday that celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people from an evil plot to destroy them in ancient Persia. It’s celebrated by reading the Book of Esther, wearing costumes, and giving gifts.