Jewish Holidays
Holidays begin at sundown the previous day. For more jewish resources visit www.myjewishlearning.com.
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SHABBAT Begins Friday at sundown and ends sundown on Saturday every week. Shabbat (the Sabbath or Day of Rest) is observed each week from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night (Havdalah). This 25-hour period commemorates the day when God rested after creating the world in six days. To sanctify the Sabbath, blessings over candles, wine, and a special braided egg bread, challah, are shared with family and friends. Shabbat is a day of rest and spiritual enrichment, observed in the synagogue or at home. By “unplugging” from work and daily concerns, we devote time to relaxation and reflection on how to live a good life. Shabbat brings renewal through meditation, special meals, and time in nature. Shabbat is welcomed every Friday in the Early Childhood Centers and the JCC building, and all families with young children are invited to our PJ Library Family Shabbat. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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CHANUKAH | DECEMBER 14-22, 2025 Join us in the Chase Family Gallery to light the Chanukah candles
The eight-day Festival of Lights celebrates the rededication of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabees’ victory in reclaiming the freedom to practice Judaism. At the heart of the holiday is the miracle of the oil—when a single day’s supply burned for eight full days. Each evening, families around the world light the menorah, adding one candle per night until all eight glow brightly, symbolizing hope, perseverance, and faith. Hanukkah is celebrated with festive traditions: eating foods fried in oil like potato latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), playing dreidel, and exchanging small gifts—especially with children. At the JCC, we honor the spirit of giving through an annual Hanukkah donation drive, collecting toys, warm clothing, pajamas, and more for community partners supporting local families in need. |
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Traditional Greeting Happy Chanukah or Happy Hanukkah |
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TU B'SHVAT | FEBRUARY 1-2, 2026 Tu B’Shvat is known as the New Year of the Trees or the Trees’ Birthday. It coincides with the beginning of spring in Israel when the first almond blossoms open. It is traditional to eat fruits from Israel called the 7 species: figs, dates, grapes, olives, pomegranates and wheat. It is also a time to eat new fruits and to say the Shehechiyanu (a prayer forexperiencing something new). Tu B’Shvat can be celebrated by participating in a Tu B’Shvat seder, by planting trees and seeds, and thus, investing in our future, by eating the seven species, and exploring ways to sustain and care for our environment. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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PURIM | MARCH 2-3, 2026 Purim is often called the “Fun Jewish Holiday.” It celebrates the Jewish people’s survival against annihilation in ancient Persia, as told in the biblical Book of Esther. This joyous holiday honors the courage of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai, who saved their people from the wicked tyrant Haman. We celebrate Purim by reading the Megillah (the Purim story), giving to charity (tzedakah), enjoying a festive meal (seudah), dressing up in costumes, and sharing mishloach manot (gifts of food) with friends. We also indulge in hamantaschen—triangle-shaped, filled cookies that symbolize Haman’s threecornered hat. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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PASSOVER | APRIL 1-9, 2026 The JCC closes at 3:00pm on Wed. April 1 and remains closed on Thur. April 2. The JCC closes at 3:00pm on Tue. April 7 and remains closed on Wed. April 8.
Passover is a celebration of freedom from slavery in Egypt. Known as Pesach in Hebrew, it is a week-long celebration of spring, birth and rebirth, the journey from slavery to freedom, and taking responsibility for oneself, the community, and the world. Passover commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. The word Pesach means “to pass over,” referring to the plague that struck the firstborn Egyptians, while the Angel of Death passed over the homes of the Jews. Passover is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, celebrated with family and friends gathered around the Seder table. During Passover, we remember: “Let all who are hungry come and eat” and “Let all who are in need, come and share the Passover meal.” The Passover Seder reminds us of the suffering and degradation faced by those who are poor, the sharp pain of hunger, and the bondage of poverty and persecution. This shared memory and experience compel us to act. The first two and last two days of Passover are observed as holy days. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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YOM HASHOAH | APRIL 13-14, 2026 Holocaust Remembrance Day memorializes the six million Jews who perished as victims of the Nazis during World War II, with community gatherings, prayers, songs, and survivor testimonies. Known in Hebrew as Shoah, which means “catastrophe” or “utter destruction,” the Holocaust reminds us of the horrors faced by Jews and other persecuted groups: forced labor, starvation, humiliation, and torture, often ending in death. In Israel, Yom HaShoah is observed for 24 hours (from sunset to sunset), during which all places of public entertainment are closed. The most notable feature of the holiday is the sound of a siren at sundown and again at 11 a.m. the next morning, when the entire country pauses for two minutes. Many commemorate Yom HaShoah by lighting yellow candles to honor the memory of the six million victims. Synagogues and Jewish communities gather to mark the day through worship and sharing survivor stories, keeping these memories alive for future generations.
YOM HAZIKARON | APRIL 20-21, 2026 Israel’s Memorial Day honors the sacrifices of soldiers who gave their lives defending the Jewish state and commemorates victims of terror. Observed annually on the day before Israeli Independence Day, this juxtaposition serves as a powerful reminder that the freedom and safety enjoyed in Israel are possible only because of the individual heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our people and shared dreams. As on Yom HaShoah, the entire country pauses at the sound of a siren, followed by prayers recited in military cemeteries. This solemn day sees Israelis attending public ceremonies, visiting the graves of loved ones, and leaning on each other for strength, hope, and the resolve to thrive. Together, they ensure these lives were not lost in vain.
YOM HAATZMAUT | APRIL 21-22, 2026 Israel Independence Day celebrates the founding of the modern state of Israel in May 1948, with parades, concerts, barbecues, outdoor festivities, and Israel-themed parties. Moments after the sun sets on Yom Hazikaron, the flag is raised from halfstaff to full height, marking an emotional shift from mourning to joy. Jewish communities around the world join in solidarity with Israel and one another.
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SHAVUOT | MAY 21-23, 2026 Shavuot combines two major religious observances. First is the grain harvest of the early summer. Second is the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai seven weeks after the exodus from Egypt. The first determines the ritual for the holiday, which was one of the three pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel, when males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits of their harvest. The second determines the significance of the holiday of entering into a covenant between God and Israel.
The Torah commands the seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning on the second day of Passover, to be immediately followed by Shavuot. This counting of days and weeks expresses the anticipation and desire for the giving of the Torah. On Passover, the people of Israel were freed from their enslavement to Pharaoh; on Shavuot, they were given the Torah and became a nation committed to serving God.[ Today we celebrate by going to synagogue to hear the Ten Commandments, enjoying festive meals consisting of dairy foods, staying up all night to learn and read the Book of Ruth.
The most popular explanation as to why we eat dairy comes from when we were receiving the Torah on Mt. Sinai we were pure and innocent like newborns and babies survive on milk so we enjoy all dairy treats. Israel is also known as the Land of Milk and Honey.
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ROSH HASHANAH | SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2026 Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time of reflection, renewal, and hope. It is both joyful and introspective—an opportunity to look back on the year that has passed and set intentions for the one ahead. Often called the “birthday of the world,” Rosh Hashanah is observed with festive meals, synagogue services, and the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn), which is traditionally blown 100 times to awaken the spirit and inspire self-examination. Sweet foods like apples dipped in honey are enjoyed to symbolize our hopes for a sweet and fulfilling year. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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YOM KIPPUR | SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2026 The JCC will close at 3:00pm on Oct 1 and remain closed on Oct 2. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar. It comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah and marks the culmination of the High Holidays—a period of deep reflection, accountability, and spiritual renewal. Traditionally observed with fasting, prayer, and introspection, Yom Kippur is a time to seek forgiveness, make amends, and commit to personal growth in the year ahead. Many spend the day in synagogue, engaged in prayer and contemplation. The fast ends at sundown and is often followed by a joyful break-the-fast meal shared with family and friends. |
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Traditional Greeting “Have an easy fast” or “G’mar Tova” — may you be sealed in the Book of Life. |
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SUKKOT | SEPTEMBER 25-OCTOBER 2, 2026 The JCC will close at 3:00pm on Oct 6 and remain closed on Oct 7. Sukkot, the Jewish harvest festival, is a joyful celebration of nature, community, and remembrance. It commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the desert after leaving slavery in Egypt, during which they lived in temporary shelters called sukkot. Today, we honor that journey by building festive, open-air booths with at least three sides, no solid roof, and no door—so the stars and sky remain visible. These sukkot are decorated with fruits, vegetables, and natural materials to reflect the bounty of the season. It is a cherished tradition to eat, gather, learn, and even sleep in the sukkah during the weeklong holiday. The Mandell JCC Sukkah will be located in the Presidents’ Courtyard and adorned with beautiful decorations created by children in our programs. All are welcome to visit, enjoy the fresh air, and take part in special family events throughout the holiday. Interested in using the sukkah? We’d love to host your meeting, gathering, or meal. Please contact Amy Gurchin at agurchin@mandelljcc.org or 860-231-6323. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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SHEMINI ATZERET/SIMCHAT TORAH | OCT 3-4, 2026 The JCC will close at 3:00pm on Oct 13 and remain closed on Oct 14. Shemini Atzeret, which means “the eighth day of assembly,” follows immediately after the seven days of Sukkot. Though connected to Sukkot, it is considered a distinct holiday—a time set aside for spiritual reflection and connection. In ancient Israel, it also marked the start of the rainy season, symbolizing hope for renewal and sustenance. Simchat Torah, which means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is celebrated the day after Shemini Atzeret. It marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle—finishing the final verses of Deuteronomy and immediately beginning again with Genesis. This moment of joyful continuity is celebrated in synagogues with dancing, singing, and parading with Torah scrolls, often led by children and families. Together, these holidays are a powerful blend of gratitude, joy, and celebration of Jewish learning. |
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Traditional Greeting |
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