Page 134 - Advanced Biblical Backgrounds Revised

Tabernacles
Tabernacles (Hebrew: Sukkot) is the time to remember how the Children of Israel walked for 40 years in
the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. A lot of Israelis, especially families with children, build a special
tent (Hebrew: sukka) where throughout the holiday period, they eat meals, get together and play games
with their family and friends. The day after Sukkot is called Simchat Torah or Shemini Atzeret when the
reading of the Torah starts from the beginning (and is read entirely during the course of one year).
It is also called The Feast of Ingathering. The holiday lasts for seven days, followed by one day of the
Simchat Torah.

Date: October, 14 days after New Year.

Purim
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from
destruction. However, it is more national than it is a religious holiday. In Purim, children as well as
grown-ups masquerade in costume and wear masks (like on Halloween) and take part in colorful, funny,
and happy street parades and street parties. In the evening, the young people hang out on the streets,
while private and public parties are held for a few days before, during, and after the exact date of the
holiday.
During this holiday, it is a tradition to send candy gifts to friends. “Oznei Haman,” which are sweet
triangular pastries traditionally filled with poppy seeds (or other fillings like dates or chocolate) is the
traditional food of this one-day holiday.

Date: around March.
Visitor Tip: the parade in the city of Holon (center of Israel) is the biggest and most famous of all.

Hanukkah (Chanukah)
Hanukkah, the festival of lights, is a popular and known holiday where Jews celebrate the victory of the
Hebrew independence over the Roman Empire in the Holy Land around 2000 years ago. The Jews
practice the lighting of the Menorah (Hebrew: hanukiah) candles, playing with a dreidel (Hebrew:
sevivon), and playing lots of kids' songs. The holiday lasts for eight days.

Date: late December.

There are a few other non-religious holidays, including Holocaust Memorial Day, Tu Bishvat, Lag
Baomer, and Summer Break. When traveling to Israel, be sure to plan your trips with all the holidays in
mind, as they can become a major obstacle in travel and purchasing food. Each year most of the
holidays change dates, so be sure to check the current calendar for the exact dates of these holidays.

For more information on the Seven Feasts, view the following videos:
Prophetic Fulfillment of the Biblical Feasts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ_oGL33OKc
The Feasts of the Lord - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xp3iLC1QuKw

133