Moadim: Calendar Musings

Leann Shamash
May 13
2 min read

#emor #parshatemor #vayikra #sefervayikra #holidays #jewishholidays #jewishcalendar #rabbinicholidays #shaloshregalim

Parshat Emor is known as Parshat Ha'moadim, where the Torah based holidays are listed.

The Jewish holidays are divided between biblical holidays, rabbinic sourced holidays and holidays added over the past century. For more information on Jewish holidays, please see this post in MY JEWISH LEARNING.

Biblical holidays

Shabbat

Rosh Hashannah

Yom Kippur

Shavuot

Sukkot

Shemini Atzeret

Counting the Omer

Rosh Chodesh

Rabbinic holidays

Chanukah

Purim

Tu B’Shevat

L'ag B'Omer

Tisha B'Av

Fast days during the year

Holidays of modern times

Yom Hashoah

Yom Hazikaron

Yom Ha’atzmaut

What do we do to celebrate and remember during the calendar year? What are the lessons we learn from the holidays that we mark over the course of a year?

Celebrate and Remember.

In the space of one short year we recall armies and revolts,

times we were saved

and times we failed miserably and were exiled.

We mourn. We laugh.

We drink. We weep.

We celebrate freedom,

beginnings and completions,

new years, new moons and new beginnings.

We mark times of counting,

times of disease, times of espionage.

We commemorate wars.

Both victories and defeats.

We celebrate crops, water and rain.

We celebrate trees and fruits.

crossing seas and FREEDOM.

We examine

our relationship with others,

our relationship with God,

We celebrate at home.

We celebrate together.

Together.

Am Echad.

We mark miracles with a measure of joy and gratitude.

We celebrate with horns, with palm fronds and citrons.

We recall with candles.

and with candles we enter and depart.

We sing. We bow. We sit.

In booths. On the floor.

We pray, dance,

stomp and sway.

We build and take apart.

We furl and unfurl,

wave flags

and shake, shake shake (that lulav!)

We bake and braid,

cut triangles,

drink wine and a bit of salty water.

And we eat, with gusto.

We drink L'chayims and we smile.

Oh yes, we do.

Most importantly...(can there be a most importantly on this list?)

Blissfully, thankfully and a gift to all,

every seventh day there is a full stop and a rest.

We celebrate a deep,

rooted connection to a Land

The Land of our prayers ,

the hope of generations.

And every day we deepen

we expand our connection

Torah.

All

In the space of one short year.

*******

If you are still reading this, here is a question for you to answer. My hypothetical question is if you had the opportunity to amend the calendar with a new holiday to celebrate, commemorate or to honor someone or something, what might that holiday be? What would it look like? How would it be celebrated? It's just an idea, but it is a nice exercise!

What about your idea? Happy to see it in the chat, or message me through the "Contact Us" on the page, or I'd be happy just to have you think about this, on this Parshat HaMoadim, Parshat Emor, the parsha of the holidays.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,

Leann