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Lag B’omer (May 10)<br />
Lag B’Omer falls on the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, which begins on the second night of Passover. The time between<br />
Passover and Shavuot is a time of semi-mourning, and traditional Jews do not celebrate weddings at this time and men will not<br />
shave their beards until Lag B’Omer. While the origins of this holiday are somewhat unclear, many use it to commemorate Rabbi<br />
Akiba, who was a supporter of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans. Today, it is celebrated by lighting a bonfire and playing<br />
with bows and arrows in the great outdoors.<br />
yom yerushalayim (May 20)<br />
Yom Yerushalayim is an Israeli National Holiday that celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem. When the War of Independence<br />
concluded in 1948, Israel had control over much of the city of Jerusalem, but the Old City, including the Kotel (Western Wall) was<br />
controlled by the Jordanians. For 19 years, Israelis were not permitted to enter the Old City, but that changed after the Israeli<br />
victory in the Six Day War. In 1967, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel declared Jerusalem Day a minor religious holiday to thank God<br />
for victory in the Six-Day War and for answering the 2,000-year-old prayer of “Next Year in Jerusalem”.<br />
Shavuot (May 26-28)<br />
Shavuot (Weeks) celebrates the Jews receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. The date of Shavuot is closely related to Passover,<br />
since it marks the conclusion of the counting of the Omer, which begins on the second night of Passover. This counting of days<br />
and weeks is understood to express anticipation and desire for the Giving of the Torah. It is customary to celebrate Shavuot by<br />
staying up all night studying and Ashkenazic Jews celebrate by eating dairy products like blintzes and cheesecake. Traditionally,<br />
Shavuot is celebrated in Israel for one day but in the Diaspora for two days.<br />
Quiz<br />
How many times is G-d’s name mentioned in the Book of Esther?<br />
a) 0 b) 18 c) 100 d) 180<br />
The word seder means<br />
a) Story b) Order c) Plague d) Service<br />
Had the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) not selected the 27th of Nissan to observe Yom Ha’Shoah, what other dates might<br />
have been chosen?<br />
a) T’sha B’Av (the date commemorating the destruction of the Temple)<br />
b) The 10th of Tevet (the day the walls of the Temple were breeched)<br />
c) None, new holidays shouldn’t be created<br />
d) The 15th of Nissan (the first night of Passover)<br />
Why are Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut listed as “observed” and not any other of the holidays on this list?<br />
Which of the following is NOT one of the Shalosh Regalim (three pilgrimage holidays)?<br />
a) Shavuot b) Passover c) Rosh HaShanah d) Sukkot<br />
Which holiday is the newest addition to the Jewish calendar?<br />
a)Yom Ha’Atzmaut b) Yom Yerushalayim c) Yom HaZikaron d) Lag B’Omer<br />
True or False: Shavuot has no mitzvot (Torah-prescribed commandments) associated with it.<br />
A B ALL OF THE ABOVE! Most interesting to the author is D. April 19, 1943 was the date the Warsaw Uprising<br />
began, however, it was also the 15th of Nissan, the first night of Passover! Due to this fact, the Knesset decided against<br />
observing Yom HaShoah on this date. Shabbat impacts the dates of the holiday! The holidays are always celebrated on the<br />
4th and 5th of Iyar except for years in which the 5th of Iyar is Shabbat (like this year!) C B TRUE! Shavuot has many<br />
customs, but no commandments that outline how the holiday should be observed.<br />
visit us online at www. boulderjcc.org MARCH-APRIL-MAY <strong>2012</strong> / Adar, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan 5772 5
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