Holy Days 5771

Appointed Times (Mo’edim), Good Days (Tom Tov), Festivals (Chag) and Fasts (Ta’anit) for 5771 (2010–2011)

NOTE: All Days began prior to sunset the previous evening (unless noted otherwise) as the day was proclaimed by G-d in Genesis as “there was evening and there was morning - the first day” (Genesis 1:5) Day is differentiated on light and darkness and is not dependent on the Sun and Moon because they were not created until the fourth day (Genesis 1:14–19). Note that the word translated as “signs to mark the seasons” is Mo’ed for which Mo’edim (appointed times) is the plural. G-d set the heavenly bodies to mark His Appointed Times for us.

Adonai’s Appointed Times - מועדי האשם

The following is a listing of The Appointed Times (Mo’edim) of G-d for 5771 (2010–2011) which we are commanded to proclaim as Sacred Assemblies (Leviticus 23:2). These are listed in order of the Hebrew Civil Calendar, though G-d said that His Year begins on Nissan 1 (Exodus 12:2).

Three of these Appointed Times are “Feast Days.” Exodus 23:14–16 lists the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest (also called Feast of Weeks), Feast of Ingathering (also call Feast of Tabernacles)

The Times of the New Moon - מולדות

The Molads - times of the new moon - (with the exception of the month of Tishrei whose Molad is not announced) are announced by the Gabbai at the time of the Blessing of the New Month, which takes place on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh (Head of the Month). The time for the Molad (the appearance of the New Moon) of each month is traditionally expressed in the minutes, and Chalokim after the hour. (A Cheilek, the smallest traditional measurement of the time, is 1/1080 of an hour, or 1/18 of a minute, which amounts to a little more than three seconds.) Thus, the traditional way of announcing the Molad for MarCheshvan would be to announce: “The Molad for Mar Cheshvan will be Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:10 PM and 1 Chailek.”

Moladot 5770

Moladot 5771

Yom Tov and Chag -

NOTE: The following days are not Sacred Assemblies but are days that have spiritual significance for us.

Holy Day Calendar, Luach

Fasts - תענית

A ta’anit is a fast in Judaism. A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including:

• A tool for repentance
• An expression of mourning
• Supplication, such as the Fast of Esther or a Ta’anit Halom (fast over a disturbing dream).

Adonai Commanded Fast Days

• Yom HaKippurim, the Day of Atonement, is the most well-known and well-observed fast. This is the only fast day mentioned in the Torah (Leviticus 23:26–32). Yom HaKippurim is a full fast, from sunset to darkness the following night. This fast day carries four additional restrictions - one may not wash his body; wear leather shoes; use colognes, oils or perfumes; have marital relations.

Observed Fast Days that commemorate events having to do with the destruction of the Temple.

• Ninth of Av, Tisha B’Av, תשעה באב or ט׳ באב
  Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av, is an annual fast day in Judaism. Its name denotes the ninth day (Tisha) of the Jewish month of Av. The day has been called the “saddest day in Jewish history” since the destruction of both the first and second temples are believed to have occurred on this day. When the ninth of Av falls on the Sabbath, the observance is pushed off until Sunday the tenth (although that day is still referred to as Tisha B’Av). (Biblical sources indicate that the First Temple was actually destroyed on either the 7th or 10th of Av - 2 Kings 25, 8; and Jeremiah 52, 12.
• Fast of Gedalia, Tzom Gedalia, צום גדליה
  Tzom Gedalia (or Gedaliah), The Fast of Gedalia, is a Jewish fast day from dawn till dusk to lament the assassination of the righteous governor of Judah of that name, which left Judah devoid of any Jews and Jewish rule, and made the destruction of the first Temple complete. (2 Kings 25:25–26)
• Tenth of Tevet, Asara B’Tevet, עשרה בטבת
  Asarah b’Tevet, Tenth of Tevet, the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a minor fast day in Judaism. It falls out either seven or eight days after the conclusion of Hannukah, depending on whether Rosh Chodesh of Tevet that year is observed for one day or two. The Tenth of Tevet commemorates the onset of the siege that Nebuchadrezzar of Babylonia laid to ancient Jerusalem, an event that ultimately led to the destruction of Solomon’s Temple (the First Temple) and Babylonia’s conquest of southern Israel’s Kingdom of Judah. See II Kings 25:1–4, Zechariah 8:19, Ezekiel 24:1–2, and Jeremiah 52:4–6.
• Seventeenth of Tamuz, Shiv’ah Asar b’Tammuz, שבעה עשר בתמוז
  Shiv’ah Asar b’Tammuz, Seventeenth of Tammuz is the seventeenth day on the Hebrew month of Tammuz. This day is a half-day fast (dawn to dusk) in Judaism. The 17th of Tammuz is mentioned in Nevi’im (Prophets) - as “the fast of the fourth month” (Zechariah 8:19). The Mishnah (Taanit 4:8) lists five calamities that befell the Jewish people on this date:

1. Moses broke the two tablets of stone on Mount Sinai;
2. The daily tamid offering ceased to be brought;
3. The walls of Jerusalem were breached (proceeding to the destruction of the Temple);
4. Prior to Bar Kokhba’s revolt, Roman military leader Apostomus burned a Torah scroll;
5. An idol was erected in the Temple.
   The Babylonian Talmud (Taanit 28b) places the second and fifth tragedies in the First Temple, while dating the third tragedy (breach of Jerusalem) to the Second Temple period. Jerusalem of the First Temple, on the other hand, was breached on the 9th of Tammuz (cf. Jeremiah 52.6–7).

Other Observed Fast Days

• Fast of Esther, Ta’anit Esther, תענית אסתר
  Ta’anit Ester, The Fast of Esther, is a minor Jewish fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve, commemorating the three day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim. This fast was accepted by the Jews for all future generations, as it is stated in the Book of Esther: They had established for themselves and their descendants the matters of the fasts and their cry. (Esther 9:31) The Fast is observed on the 13th day of the Hebrew month of Adar. If the Fast of Esther falls on Shabbat (Saturday), the fast is observed on the preceding Thursday. Since the Fast of Esther is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets, the laws are more lenient; pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are weak are not required to observe it. (Note: in certain situations a weak, sick, or pregnant person is not required or even permitted to observe any Jewish fast day; a rabbi should be consulted to determine the law for one’s specific situation.)

Times in bold indicate holidays.