Biblical Bits
Where possible, the Jewish translation is included.
| Rosh Hashana | Custom of Tashlich - Micah 7:19 The custom of tashlich requires that we empty crumbs from our pockets into a flowing water source, as part of a cleansing process, reflecting on our wrong-doings and how we might rectify them in the coming year. Read about Sarah giving birth to Isaac Sarah found herself barren in her old age but gave birth to Isaac who became one of the four Fathers. Read about Hannah giving birth to Samuel Hannah found herself barren and, after giving birth to Samuel, donated him to the Temple and he later became a prophet. |
| Yom Kippur | Jonah Jonah was instructed by God to prophetise to the people of Nineveh that unless they ceased their sinning they would be obliterated. He struggled with this task and learned some lessons about reflection and empathy from God. |
| Succot | Kohelet / Ecclesiastes http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16462 'There is a time for everything and a season for everything under Heaven' - this is where that comes from. |
| Channuka | Book of Maccabees (not in the Canon): http://st-takla.org/pub_Deuterocanon/Deuterocanon-Apocrypha_El-Asfar_El-Kanoneya_El-Tanya__8-First-of-Maccabees.html The Macabbees led the Hebrews in their revolt against the Greek army after Greek rulers insisted that the Hebrews assimilate. |
| Tu Bishvat | Devarim 20: 19 http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9984 Tu Bishvat is one of the four new years celebrated in the Hebrew calendar and it helped farmers to calculate when a new year of planting and land-use began so that they could adhere to the system of leaving the land fallow every 7 years and when to donate new crops to the Temple. |
| Purim | Book of Esther: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16474 The book of Esther celebrates two strong-willed, brave women: Vashti and Esther. The book of Esther has a nasty ending which frames the traditions of drinking alcohol and dressing up. |
| Pesach | The beginning of how the Hebrews came to be in Egypt: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9862 The Pesach story in the Hagaddah does not tell the whole story of exodus and in fact only tells the story from a certain angle, excluding the character of Moses. The broader story can be found in the Torah. |
| Shavuot | Book of Ruth: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16453 The Book of Ruth gives interesting insight into the practice of charity laws and conversion as well as providing an entertaining, suspensful agricultural romance! |