Festivals

Question 1

What are festivals in Jewish culture?

Answer 1

Festivals are a very important part of Jewish culture, remembering key events in Jewish history and serving as a time for families and the Jewish community to unite and celebrate their faith.

Question 2

Name the five Jewish festivals.

Answer 2

1. Rosh Hashanah
2. Yom Kippur
3. Pesach (Passover)
4. Sukkot
5. Shavuot

Question 3

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 3

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, marking the beginning of the High Holy Days.

Question 4

What is Yom Kippur?

Answer 4

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to repentance and fasting.

Question 5

What is Pesach?

Answer 5

Pesach, or Passover, commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Question 6

What is Sukkot?

Answer 6

Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, is a harvest festival that also commemorates the Israelites’ journey in the desert.

Question 7

What is Shavuot?

Answer 7

Shavuot is the Festival of Weeks, celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Question 8

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 8

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year.

Question 9

What is a key feature of Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 9

Kiddush (blessing) over foods containing honey in the hope that the New Year will be a sweet one.

Question 10

What is the significance of the shofar during Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 10

100 shofar notes express the crying of the souls about past sins and the yearning of the soul to be reunited with God.

Question 11

What symbolic act do people perform during Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 11

People symbolically throw their sins into a river.

Question 12

What is the importance of Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 12

It gives a chance to change and provides 10 days to repent and reflect.

Question 13

What is Yom Kippur?

Answer 13

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.

Question 14

When does Yom Kippur occur?

Answer 14

Yom Kippur occurs 10 days after Rosh Hashanah.

Question 15

What is the significance of Yom Kippur?

Answer 15

It is the holiest day of the year, focused on seeking forgiveness for wrongdoing.

Question 16

What is a common practice during Yom Kippur?

Answer 16

Fasting for 25 hours.

Question 17

What do people wear on Yom Kippur and what does it symbolize?

Answer 17

White is worn, symbolizing purity.

Question 18

What items are avoided during Yom Kippur?

Answer 18

No jewellery or leather shoes are worn.

Question 19

What is the importance of Yom Kippur?

Answer 19

God’s judgement is sealed in the ‘Book of life’, and people are freed from guilt to get closer to God.

Question 20

How does fasting during Yom Kippur help individuals?

Answer 20

Fasting helps people feel compassion for the poor and focus on God.

Question 21

What is Sukkot?

Answer 21

A festival that occurs 5 days after Yom Kippur, where people spend time in a sukkah (booth) for eating and sleeping.

Question 22

What do people carry to the synagogue during Sukkot?

Answer 22

An Etrog and Lulav.

Question 23

What does the sukkah represent in Sukkot?

Answer 23

It remembers the Jews living in the wilderness after escaping Egypt.

Question 24

What do the Etrog and Lulav represent?

Answer 24

Different parts of the body and how people should worship with their whole body.

Question 25

What is Shavuot?

Answer 25

A festival where some people stay up all night to read the Torah.

Question 26

How is the synagogue decorated during Shavuot?

Answer 26

With plants and fruit offerings brought by the congregation.

Question 27

What is read out during the Shavuot service?

Answer 27

The 10 commandments.

Question 28

What does Shavuot celebrate?

Answer 28

The gift of the Torah.

Question 29

What reminder does Shavuot provide?

Answer 29

That God provides for his people.

Question 30

What is Pesach?

Answer 30

Pesach is also known as Passover.

Question 31

How long does Pesach last?

Answer 31

Pesach lasts for 7 days.

Question 32

What is done to houses during Pesach?

Answer 32

Houses are cleaned to remove all traces of leaven items (chametz).

Question 33

What meal is celebrated during Pesach?

Answer 33

The Seder meal is celebrated with symbolic foods.

Question 34

What story is read during the Seder meal?

Answer 34

The story of the escape from Egypt is read from the Haggadah.

Question 35

What does Pesach commemorate?

Answer 35

Pesach remembers the Israelites' escape from Egypt.

Question 36

What does Pesach celebrate?

Answer 36

Pesach celebrates God's protection.

Question 37

Name a symbolic food used in the Seder meal.

Answer 37

Parsley.

Question 38

Name another symbolic food used in the Seder meal.

Answer 38

Horse radish.

Question 39

Name a third symbolic food used in the Seder meal.

Answer 39

Egg.

Question 40

What is a symbolic food that represents bitterness?

Answer 40

Bitter herbs.

Question 41

What is haroseth?

Answer 41

Haroseth is a symbolic food used in the Seder meal.

Question 42

What is the significance of the shank bone during Pesach?

Answer 42

The shank bone is a symbolic food used in the Seder meal.

Question 43

What does Leviticus 23 list?

Answer 43

Leviticus 23 lists the festivals of the Lord, which are to be proclaimed as sacred assemblies.

Question 44

What are the festivals mentioned in Leviticus 23?

Answer 44

The festivals include Shabbat, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

Question 45

Where is the story of Passover found?

Answer 45

The story of Passover is found in Exodus.

Question 46

What does Exodus detail about the Israelites?

Answer 46

Exodus details the journey of the Israelites through the desert, which is remembered at Sukkot.

Question 47

What does Leviticus instruct people to make for Sukkot?

Answer 47

Leviticus instructs people to make a lulav and sukkah to celebrate Sukkot.