Exodus, the Book and Sort of Like the Song...

Pesach (passover) is nearly here. It begins on the 25th of March this year (2012) and ends on the 1st of April. It coincides with the Christian's Holy Week/Easter and also spring. This holiday commemorates the story of Exodus in which the ancient Israelites, led by Moses, were freed from slavery in Eygpt. 

During Pesach, the Jewish refrain from eating food that contains barley, wheat, rye and oats. Why you asked? Because the Israelites left in such a haste that there was no time for bread to rise. Which also makes Matza, unleavened bread, the food for this holiday. This is also the same reason why items with said ingredients in supermarkets will be off the shelves or covered (expect an update with photos). 

Matza

Pesach is also celebrated with the traditional passover meal (seder) in which families and friends gather together and retell the story of Exodus, read holy scriptures and say special prayers. The dinner, besides eating matza, also includes drinking four cups of wine, and eating symbolic foods placed in a seder plate. The most recent variation to this is an orange, which started in the 80s by Jewish Feminist group to symbolize fruitfulness of all Jews including women.

seder plate

March 25 Passover Eve

March 26 Passover

March 31 Second Passover Eve

April 1 Passover

Exodus By Bob Marley
We're leaving Babylon,
We're going to our Father land.
Exodus, movement of Jah people! Oh, yeah!
Send us another brother Moses!
From across the Red Sea!
Movement of Jah People!

Halloween in February, Valentine's Day in August... part 2 of 2

A few weeks after moving to Israel in mid-July, the holiday Tu B'Av came in full swing (August 3). It is similar to Valentine's Day in the sense of the celebration of joy and love. But unlike Valentine's, Tu B'Av is not of pagan origin, later Christian. Like any Jewish holidays, it is written in the Torah and has historical importance and origins.

Tu B'Av marks the beginning of the grape harvest. Yom Kippur marks the end. It's a Historically, on this day, unmarried women dance in the vineyards donning only white clothes (read excerpt below). And this is why many party goers wear white to Tu B'Av festivities. 

Taanit 26b R. SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: THERE NEVER WERE IN ISRAEL GREATER DAYS OF JOY THAN THE FIFTEENTH OF AB AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. ON THESE DAYS THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM USED TO WALK OUT IN WHITE GARMENTS WHICH THEY BORROWED IN ORDER NOT TO PUT TO SHAME ANY ONE WHO HAD NONE. ALL THESE GARMENTS REQUIRED RITUAL DIPPING. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM CAME OUT AND DANCED IN THE VINEYARDS EXCLAIMING AT THE SAME TIME, YOUNG MAN, LIFT UP THINE EYES AND SEE WHAT THOU CHOOSEST FOR THYSELF. DO NOT SET THINE EYES ON BEAUTY BUT SET THINE EYES ON [GOOD] FAMILY. GRACE IS DECEITFUL, AND BEAUTY IS VAIN; BUT A WOMAN THAT FEARETH THE LORD, SHE SHALL BE PRAISED. AND IT FURTHER SAYS, GIVE HER OF THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS; AND LET HER WORKS PRAISE HER IN THE GATES.

Naturally, Tu B'Av is a popular day for weddings and proposals. It always falls on the 15th day of the 5th month of the Hebrew calendar. And always coincides with a full moon!

For 2013, Tu B'Av is on July 22. 

A good reason to dance under the full moon.  

Tu B'Av Party 2012