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Historic Background to Sukkot and Simchat Torah |
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Four days after Yom Kippur, Jews worldwide celebrate the holiday of Sukkot. Historically, Sukkot commemorates the wanderings of the Israelites, which began with the exodus from Egypt, continues with the giving of the Torah at Sinai, and ends with the wandering in the desert.
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Historic Background to Chanukah |
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In the year 338 BCE, King Philip of Macedon invaded Greece, and Athens and the Greek states became part of the Macedonian Empire. Philip died two years later and his successor was his son Alexander - Alexander the Great.
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Historic Background to Tu B'Shevat |
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Tu B'Shevat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, is a holiday also known as the New Year for Trees. The word "Tu" is not really a word, it is the number 15 in Hebrew.
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Historic Background to Purim |
The events commemorated at Purim occurred 2,500 years ago. King Ahasuerus (Achashverosh) of Persia had defeated Nebuchadnezzer to conquer Babylonia and had consolidated his rule over the Persian Empire.
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Historic Background to Pesach |
Under the Pharaoh (probably Amenophis IV) Joseph had risen to a position of wealth and power and the Hebrews had prospered. However his successor was not so tolerant and after Joseph's death the situation rapidly became worse.
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Historic Background to Shavuot |
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Shavuot has been known as Chag HaShavuot (Festival of the Weeks) or Chag HaKatsir (Festival of the Harvest) or Chag HaBikkurim (Festival of the First Fruits). It is one of the shalosh regalim, the three main pilgrimage festivals. It comes at the end of the seven-week cycle of the Omer, which begins on the second day of Pesach.
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Historic Background to Tisha B'Av |
According to tradition, the First Temple was destroyed by the Babylonion king Nebuchadnezzar on the Ninth of Av in the year 586 BCE, and the Second Temple was destroyed by the Roman general Vespasian on the Ninth of Av in the year 70 CE. Tisha B'Av is the saddest day in the Jewish calendar and is observed as a day of mourning.
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Religious Affairs