An estimated 40,000-50,000 Jews from around the world converged on the city of Hebron and its adjacent sister city, Kiryat Arba, over Shabbat in honor of Sarah, the biblical matriarch of the Jewish people.
Event Tag: Holiday
Hannukah Lighting in London
Come celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights, with a giant menorah that will be lit up in Trafalgar Square!
Public Sukkah in Venice
Come celebrate Sukkot in Venice! Enjoy your meals during this Jewish festival in the public Sukkah of the Venice Ghetto.
Hannukah Lighting in New York City
Time to light the menorah! Hannukah is one of the best NYC events in December. It reminds us to nosh on classic Jewish food, hit up a holiday market to find some great gifts and bond with loved ones.
Public Hannukah
Come join the Grand Menorah Lighting in the Campo del Ghetto, one of the oldest ghettos in the world. There will be music, delicious fresh doughnuts and crispy potato latkes tasting, and 100% chance of dancing.
Purim Street Party
Purim is one of the most important Israeli holidays, celebrated all over the country with the biggest events taking place in Tel Aviv. The very nature of the holiday is religious, but these days religious traditions are successfully merged with all night clubbing and carnival atmosphere. The highlight of Purim celebration is the street party and festival with people celebrating all day and night long.
Lag Ba’Omer Pilgrimage at Mount Meron
Lag BaOmer is a Jewish religious holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. According to kabbalistic tradition, this day marks the hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and the day on which he revealed the deepest secrets of kabbalah in the form of the Zohar, a landmark text of Jewish mysticism. This association has spawned several well-known customs and practices on Lag BaOmer, including the lighting of bonfires, pilgrimages to the tomb of Bar Yochai in the northern Israeli town of Meron, and various customs at the tomb itself. Residents who live near Meron are permitted to travel on the specified routes, only by presenting an identity card indicating their place of residence. Guests who have ordered guest rooms have to check with the hosts that they have forwarded their latest details to the Israel Police.
Selichot at the Kotel
Selichot communal prayers are for Divine forgiveness, said during the High Holiday season or on Jewish fast days.
Due to the tremendous interest in participating in the central selichot services, the decision was made this year to hold fourteen events accompanied by a cantor and amplification in order to spread the crowds and make it possible for all who wish to participate to come. The selichot services will be broadcast live on the Foundation website for those who are not able to come to the Western Wall but who wish to participate in these moving services.
The Western Heritage Foundation: The recitation of selichot at the Western Wall Plaza unites the Jewish nation. All the various streams stand together pouring out their souls and accepting the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven during these important days of atonement, calling out together – “O Master of Forgiveness, Examiner of Hearts, we have sinned before You, have mercy upon us.”
We call upon the public to come say selichot earlier in the month, and not only in the last days of selichot, in order to spread the crowds and maintain the health and safety of all who come to the Western Wall.
http://allaboutjerusalem.com/event/night-spectacular-and-selichot-old-city
Ethiopian Sigd Festival
Sigd is a holiday commemorating the acceptance of the Torah by the Ethiopian Jewish community. It is celebrated each year on the 29th of Cheshvan, and is recognized as a national holiday in Israel.
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Overlooking-the-Old-City-of-Jerusalem-Ethiopian-Jews-celebrate-Sigd-571303
Kaparot at Machane Yehuda
Kaparot consists of carefully passing a chicken over one’s head three times while reciting the appropriate text. The chicken is then slaughtered in a humane fashion in accordance with the laws of kashrut. The chicken itself is discreetly donated to a charitable cause, such as a yeshiva or orphanage, where it is eaten just as any other chicken. Alternatively, the chicken is sold and its value donated.
https://www.gojerusalem.com/events/250/Shuk-Kaparot/