#in holidays like pesach and chanukah

[cabinetofotherthings]

i have a historiographical quibble with how the antisemitic campaigns in the soviet union in 1948–1953 are often framed as an extension of the holocaust in the scholarship rather than being fully considered within the context of the soviet nationalities policy. except when i'm applying for funding from institutions that do holocaust studies. then i'm fine with it

[kvetchinglyneurotic]

I wish you would write a fic where...

Anything exploring Jewish Roy Kent. How being sent away at such a young age affected his connection to that part of his life, the new ways he’s learned to experience it with his family now, anything

I'm going to Frankenstein this ask together with your one for the fic title game because I got this I was like. good news!

This one is kind of based on personal experience, so allow me to overshare for a moment: I grew up in a city with a fairly small Jewish population in general but especially in my neighbourhood — I'm pretty sure I was the only Jewish kid in my entire year in elementary school, and by the time I got to high school I knew of like. maybe two or three others. (This did produce some funny moments, like when we got to the part in Macbeth where witches call for the liver of a blaspheming Jew and everyone at my table turned to look at me).

And so Jewish Roy is very dear to me but also makes me sad because while I did find that experience kind of difficult and alienating at times, at the end of the day, I came home to my Jewish family. I think when you're in that type of situation, it's incredibly valuable to have someone who shares that experience so you can essentially reaffirm each other — because when you're the only one who has (or doesn't have) a certain experience or is bothered by something that everyone else seems to like, it's very easy to assume that you're being irrational or overreacting (this is also, incidentally, why I appreciate all my fellow aros and aces), and that's not something Roy is likely to have had.

I don't have any snippets for this one yet but the premise of Roy Kent vs the Jewish Experience is that as he's working with Dr. Sharon post-season 3, Roy starts to unpack some of his complicated feelings around growing up the way he did, and part of that is realizing that he resents the fact that he never had the opportunity to grow up in Judaism — and part of that's directed at his family, but it's also directed at the football academy system for not really giving him that opportunity. So he decides that for the first time basically ever, he's going to take time off for his holidays because he's the manager now and no one can stop him. The fic basically follows Roy through a year of Jewish celebrations starting with Rosh Hashanah (new year's) that somehow turns into a full club event because the boys love their coach and have never heard of subtlety, and if they celebrate Christmas at the club despite a bunch of them not being Christian, why not other holidays?

[wi11owbird]

a little psa about Christmas and Chanukah because it’s that time of year again

People who celebrate Christmas: this is for you. It’s not an attack, nor is it saying that Christmas is bad or that you shouldn’t celebrate it! It’s just a few notes by a tired Jew on how you can change your language and behavior to make the Christmas season even though Christmas is still over a month out a little less exhausting for the Jews in your life.

The holiday season: Calling this “the holiday season” and using other related terms bothers me to no end. Imo it’s not actually better if you sprinkle in a menorah or two. It doesn’t matter that much what you call it or what religious iconography you include, we know it’s a Christmas party; even if you include other holidays, it’s just because they fall near Christmas and therefore must be important. Please, just call it a Christmas party. There’s nothing wrong with a Christmas party!! Go for it!! Have fun, I mean it!! Just don’t pretend it’s something that it isn’t, because that doesn’t make me, at least, nor other Jews I’ve spoken with, feel much more included. It just confirms that you fundamentally do not understand what it’s like to live as a non-Christian in a Christian society, and you’re more interested in appearing as if you do than actually making an effort to.

Chanukah misconceptions: Chanukah is not about peace and love and family. You’re just copy-pasting Christmas themes. The only thematic overlaps are a) hope and miracles, and b) bringing light to a physically dark time of year. Chanukah isn’t Christmas. It’s hopeful and positive, yes, but it’s also yet another reminder of the cycles of trauma in our history. It’s about yet another time they tried to kill us and yet another time they failed. It’s about resilience and resistance and an uncrushable spirit. It’s about the impossible victory of the underdog. It’s also not even that big of a deal in Judaism. In fact, it’s one of the most minor Jewish holidays. People only think it’s important because they associate it with Christmas. Come back for the High Holidays or even Pesach, those are the real deal.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Since my previous post didn't turn up anything comprehensive like I was hoping for, I'm just going to do an informal writeup of advice on how to approach traditional Jewish observance with limited funds. I am not a rabbi or formal educator or anything official, nor is this in any way exhaustive. This is just based on my experiences as a 30ish year old adult who converted Conservative with no prior familial connections to Judaism and did so on a limited budget. I strive for traditional observance and would describe my practice as leaning more traditional egalitarian or Conservadox rather than what is most common for typical Conservative Jews in the US.

Okay? Okay.

Taking up traditional observance on a limited budget

So you're looking into traditional Jewish observance for the first time, either as a reclaimant, baal teshuva, or convert. One of the the first things you probably realized is that this lifestyle - especially the initial startup costs - is expensive. If, like me, you started reeling from the sticker shock but don't want to let that dissuade you out of stubbornness, commitment to Torah, or both, you're probably wondering where to go from here. Here is a list of things that you will need or want for an observant lifestyle that could cost money (some of this may be different based on your community and/or gender):

Ritual use (and practical use) items:

Mezuzot with a kosher klaf inside for each halachic doorway

Shabbat candles and candlesticks

Kiddush cup

Havdalah set

Challah cover

Tzedekah box

Tallit

Tefillin

Handwashing cup (and basin)

Tzniut clothing (this may be incredibly community specific) that is also practical

Tallit katan

A legitimate and covering rain coat

Walking shoes that you're not embarrassed to wear at shul (no really)

Kippot (and any other relevant head coverings, depending on your community)

**Replacing any kitchen utensils, appliances, and dishes that cannot be kashered if you're starting from scratch in keeping kosher, possibly ×2 or even ×3 depending on whether you intend to have a dual kitchen (or a meat, dairy, and pareve set of kitchen items)

Sukkah/building materials and decorations

Lulav & Etrog (these are plants; they are for ritual use but you will need to buy them each year obviously)

Menorah & Chanukah candles

Pesach dishes and kitchen utensils (noted separately because not everything is likely to be able to be kashered over for Pesach from year round) and any additional cleaning and covering items (so much tin foil lol)

Seforim (religious books)

Siddur

Bentcher(s)

Chumash

Tanakh

Practical halacha/practice guides and other basic reference books

Ongoing expenses:

Tzedekah (including special holiday giving such as mishloach manot and extra tzedekah for Purim or maot chitim for Pesach)

Shul membership fees

Kosher food is often more specialized and therefore more expensive, especially Pesach food

Wine or grape juice for Shabbat

Extra food if you're hosting people for Shabbat or potentially to bring to your host's home if you are invited over frequently

Specialized food for holidays (e.g., special fruit on Rosh Hashana, blintzes on Shavuot, brisket or matzah ball soup on Pesach, etc.)

Mikvah costs if you are married, menstruate (or have a spouse who does) and are shomer taharat mishpachat and/or if your community has a tradition of men using the mikvah before, e.g. Shabbat and holidays. Even if you don't need the mikvah for personal reasons, you will still need to pay a fee to immerse for conversion (if relevant) and to toivel any new kitchen items. You will also need bedika cloths for taharat mishpachat.

Housing in an area that allows you to walk to your shul, ideally within an eruv

Day school/Hebrew school if you have kids, and summer camp during the summers

Fees for certain classes and events; especially if you are a convert, you will likely need to pay for an Intro to Judaism course through your shul or at another local shul.

Other things that are extremely helpful, make observant life much easier and more pleasant, may help you fit into your community better, and/or enable more advanced participation, or are just nice to have:

Timers for electronics on Shabbat and Yom Tovim

Light switch covers for Shabbat

Hot water carafe for Shabbat/Yom Tovim

Plata or other type of warmer for Shabbat lunch and/or seudah shlishit

Specific laundry dealibobs (idk what they're actually called) for keeping your tzitzit in good condition

Shabbosdik watch

Shabbos key (especially if you live outside the eruv, but it's good to have for if the eruv goes down anyways)

Light box and/or thrip cloth for bug-checking produce

Bedikat chametz set

Purim costumes

If, like me, you owned exactly zero white clothes before now, you may want to invest in a white outfit for Yom Kippur &/or a kittel

Shofar (if you plan on contributing to your shul that way)

Etrog container and lulav transport bag

Machzor

Haggadot

Aramaic dictionaries for Talmud study

(Depending on the community) some amount of the Talmud

Commentaries

Tikkun

Talpiot

An extra bookshelf for all your Jewish books (not a joke)

Hebrew language classes and learning materials (which are extremely helpful in getting you integrated and up to speed)

This list doesn't even touch on things you might just want, like attractive judaica (hiddur mitzvah), jewelry, Jewish art and decor, etc.

(I also didn't touch on things that are part of major simchas such as bnei mitzvot or weddings, or travel to Israel, or studying in seminary, or other significant but highly specific expenditures that are unfortunately outside the scope of this one layperson's tumblr post)

Oy, that's a lot! This list (with a few exceptions) was generated by me going through everything I've had to invest in over time and ongoing expenses (or that I've had to find a workaround for), or things that are on my list for later when I have the funds.

I'm sure there's plenty I forgot. Where to even start?

Well, the first thing to note is that what I have took seven and a half years (and counting) to obtain, so don't expect to compile this all at once, and don't worry that you'll have to have all that money/resources marshaled up front. It will take time, and that's okay!

The other good news is that while some of this is nice to have, there's a lot that is not immediately (or ever) necessary for most/all folks to personally own, even if it is common for observant folks to own them.

A reality: Sometimes you're going to feel poor, and there will likely be a lot of people in your community who just, won't get it. Sometimes those people are in leadership. Yes this sucks and is sometimes really painful.

A counterbalance to that reality: A lot of people and communities are extremely generous and kind, even if they don't quite get it. Tzedekah is a huge mitzvah, and it is an added bonus for a lot of folks if that tzedakah goes toward enabling another Jew to observe more mitzvot. Hosting is also a major mitzvah. By accepting other people's help and being a guest at their Shabbos table, you are actually doing them a favor by giving them an opportunity to give tzedakah and host. Drill that into your head now, and early; don't be ashamed to ask for and receive help.

Now that I've laid all that out, some general advice. I will follow up later with specifics for each item from the above lists to the best of my ability in a later post.

Skip the judaica store for anything you can get at a thrift store. Candlesticks? Goodwill. B'samim jar? Find a cute container and throw some spices in there. Kiddush cup? Get a cute cup or wine glass at Target.

Start small, and take on one mitzvah at a time. It can be frustrating to have to wait, but it will help you pace yourself in reshaping your lifestyle, which is actually a very good thing. Also, before you take up a particular new mitzvah, learn deeply about it first so that you understand what is actually required, and what is customary (minhag) or stringency (chumra). You may not need the specialty pre-approved [read: more expensive] version of the thing if you know enough of what you're doing.

See if your shul, another nearby shul, or JCC ever has a community rummage sale. If so, check that out for secondhand menorahs, tallitot, siddurim, etc. (If not, consider suggesting that they do to leadership that organizes events or offer to organize it yourself if you're on that committee.) Also check out thrift stores and secondhand bookstores in particularly Jewish areas.

Talk to your rabbi about your needs. Your rabbi may have good suggestions that are specific to your area/community, may have discretionary funds to help, or may know folks who would be willing to pass on extra judaica they don't need.

Your shul may also have items you can borrow. I was able to, for example, borrow a machzor for the high holidays, and borrow a set of tefillin for nearly two years while I saved up for my own set. (And even then, the rabbi helped cover half of the cost from discretionary funds when I did purchase my own set, and was happy to do so.)

Honestly, just borrow whatever books you can until you can get your own. You can do this from your shul, your shul's library if they have one, or even the public library for reference books and certain commentaries. I would buy them in the following order: the siddur your shul uses, a chumash, a Tanakh, and then whatever else you're interested in. Sefaria.org is an incredible free online resource, but you'll want these for Shabbat and Yom Tovim sooner rather than later.

Talk to your rabbi or shul leadership about reduced membership fees, or join a shul that has a pay-what-you-can fee structure.

Look for classes that are free, have a sliding scale fee structure, or scholarships. If you're dead-set on a particular class and it doesn't advertise reduced fees or scholarships based on need, reach out to the organizers and ask. They might not have advertised it, but would be able to ask if someone would sponsor a student or give you ideas of other funds you could apply for.

Keep a wish list updated, and if friends or family are buying you birthday or holiday gifts, ask for important (and specific) items. I recommend an online registry so that you get the specific thing you need/want.

For specialty kosher food, see if your area has a kosher co-op so you can buy for bulk prices. (This is especially helpful for Pesach.)

These are general suggestions, but there's a lot more. Stay tuned!

[magnetothemagnificent]

hi, i have a question, i hope this isnt annoying and you dont need to answer.

ive been wanting to convert and have been doing a lot of readings and such as recommended by a friends rabbi (lives several hours from me however and is reform whereas im looking for conservative) and a few other people i knew as well as just what was in my local library, but i havent had a chance at too many community connections due to living in The Middle Of Nowhere with almost no jewish population. on the 19thDec a synagogue somewhat close to me is holding a menorah lighting + donation drive at a public park, which is advertised as being open to both jewish and non jewish individuals who are interested in learning. would it be appropriate for me to go therefore and attempt to ask questions? would it be beter for me to go but just stay silent or only make polite conversation, or should i not even go at all? i dont want to overstep, but i am entirely serious about conversion and i know its not physically possible for me to progress further without community.

theres really no synagogues around me i can attend, and im moving in about a year to places w hopefully higher jewish populace (for school, unrelated to conversion) and this isnt a synagogue i would able to attend regularly (its almost an hour away from where i live so going for this event is out of the ordinary and would be a specific trip, but i wouldnt be able to make weekly services) so im worried it would be dishonest or rude.

again, its open to all peoples and it was by rsvp, which my partner and i already rsvp'd to, but i dont want to be annoying or appropriative when im trying to learn and im doubting myself a bit. sorry and thank you for reading. (also we are of course planning to bring donation if we do attend!)

It's definately not appropriative for you to attend a Chanukah party that welcomes both Jews and non-Jews. If they specifically say they're open for learners, then it's a great oppurtunity to learn. However, I would caution you on asking specifically things like "where can I go to convert?" because that's a really loaded question that I don't think people are prepared to recieve at such an occasion, especially if they don't know you personally. Rather, ask for the Rabbi and synagogue's contact information, and ask general questions about the holiday and Judaism itself. They'll be happy to answer your questions. Although, make sure you're asking the organizers and not regular event-goers, because they may not know how to answer your questions. I think you should also consider attending more Jewish events before finalizing your decision to convert. The Rabbi you speak to will probably also recommend it. Judaism is an incredibly communal culture and religion, and reading about Judaism just isn't the same as experiencing it. After Chanukah, we have Tu Bi'Shvat, the holiday celebrating the New Year for tree. Then after that, there's Purim, and after that Pesach, and so on and so forth, not to mention Shabbat every week. All of these are oppurtunities for you to experience more Jewish events and holidays and really get a full picture of what Judaism is and where you want to be. After the Chanukah event, if you still want to, reach out the Rabbi by phonecall or by email, and let them know that you were at the event and ask about further oppurtunities for learning and experience. Best of luck!

[hineini]

Didn't that confuse me

I'm pretty accustomed to hearing various confusions/mix-ups about holidays inside my faith, chiefly non-Jews believing due to marketing that Chanukah is basically Christmas' Hebrew name though sometimes there are others.

Today was definitely different.

During FU worship, someone came in to help everything run so members could decide if they want them to come serve as minster for the future (sorry if that looks like confusing grammar; it's like that since our candidate is non-binary). As I heard them talk through an English video depicting pretty much every name God has in Judaism they said something about Pesach being a high holiday.

Excuse me?

Pesach's definitely large; it's so large it's a member of the Shelosh regalim group along with Shavuot and Sukkot, holidays that were supposed to draw celebrants to Jerusalem rather than be fêted inside any other location. However, it's not a high holiday a second. If that's what you want, you're talking about rosh hashanah and/or yom kippur, which run many months after Pesach's through.

Creating a segueing path to pose that query was hardly daunting given my ability to praise the video making me feel visible and audible as someone Jewish. They promised to shoot me an email featuring a link to the webpage where they'd gotten their information so I'm game to look through if I can. Anything that helps me grow is very welcome. Of course, if it's all mixed up, I won't have it hard making sure shit's set straight given my status as a gay (plus genderqueer) woman.

[devilishbird]

guess i have polls now but only on mobile? how strange. anyway! have a poll:

if you feel like elaborating, i'd love to know which food for that holiday is your favorite

[vhschristmascarols]

okay so first off! disclaimer! i am both reform and currently struggling with my belief in god, so take everything i say with a grain of salt. conservative jews would have different perspectives and orthodox jews would have different perspectives. i also refuse to consult my rabbi for a fandom post, so here goes.

on secular judaism: well, if ocean had a bat mitzvah, that would indicate at least going to shul and sunday school regularly - though this does seem like more her choice than her parents’. a bat mitzvah requires a LOT of studying, plus understanding the text enough to be able to interpret it in a way that fits your values. i’m of the opinion that she does go to services even after her bat mitzvah is over and done with. however, ocean as a character is very- i don’t know how to say it. perhaps only looking out for herself? not believing in any sort of force up in the sky keeping her life on track. i believe it would have been mentioned somewhere at least. so perhaps she just continues going as a way to find community - shul is good for that.

i do think as for the major holidays (pesach and the high holy days - no, chanukah’s not major, i just like to pretend it is) she would view them in a more secular light? not “oh, we honor god by celebrating this”, more “i am jewish, this is what jewish people do”. she would probably participate in the high holy days choir, read torah, all that jazz - but more to be successful in one more aspect of her life than because of a belief in god.

i cannot tell you anything about her being catholic and how that would intersect. i’ve been to a church maybe three times in my life. and if ocean is a member of the congregation of her own free will, she would probably be under less scrutiny then if her parents are members as well (christian mother, jewish father)

also! i’m pretty sure in canon st. cassians is the only school in uranium. i know several jewish people who go to catholic school because it’s the only one in their area.

@moonmoonthecrabking this got LONG i am so sorry

[jewishtwig]

As a convert myself, I'm also confused about this practice in some other converts. I've been told it because they want to learn more but don't want to be disrespectful about it since ours is a closed religion. I converted because I grew up in a very Jewish neighborhood and felt very connected in a way by being allowed by certain family friends to participate in some holidays and events (I was allowed to join in during Chanukah, Pesach and Purim mostly but this fed a life long interest in my neighbors and friends and their holidays and practices) when I showed an interest. So for me I already knew alot and wanted to take the final step and properly celebrate with the people who have been my friends and family my entire life. But yeah for some converts its curiousity thing more than anything. What I'm confused about is the youtube video thing. I started my conversion by approaching my local rabbi and speaking to him and him giving me the resources I'd need to begin conversion. I think thats probably the best advice is talk to a rabbi! They're super knowledgable and very cool people!

Talking to a Rabbi is always the best way to go!

I think it’s important to differentiate between people who have converted and people who know nothing about Judaism saying they want to convert. People who start off just learning and then end up deciding to convert are totally cool and valid and I’m giving all of you a kiss on the forehead if you’d like it.

What I’m confused about is when people say they want to convert but don’t know anything about Judaism. How can someone want to convert if they don’t know anything about what they’re wanting to convert to? It’s a very serious lifelong commitment.

[dfroza]

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures

for the 14th of October 2024 with a paired chapter from each Testament (the First & the New Covenant) of the Bible

[The Book of Matthew, Chapter 22 • The Book of Judges, Chapter 15]

along with Today’s reading from the ancient books of Proverbs and Psalms with Proverbs 14 and Psalm 14 coinciding with the day of the month, accompanied by Psalm 23 for the 23rd day of Astronomical Autumn, and Psalm 138 for day 288 of the year (with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)

A post by John Parsons:

Shavuah tov, chaverim. On the Torah’s calendar, there is a (very) quick transition from the somber time of the Jewish High Holidays (Yom Teruah through Yom Kippur) to the week-long festival of Sukkot (i.e., “Tabernacles”). If the High Holidays focus on the LORD as our Creator, our Judge, and yet the merciful Savior who atones for our sins, Sukkot is the time when we joyously celebrate all that He has done for us. Prophetically understood, the seven days of Sukkot picture olam haba, the world to come, and the Millennial Kingdom reign of Mashiach ben David. If Yeshua was born during Sukkot (i.e., conceived during Chanukah, the festival of lights), then another meaning of the "word became flesh and 'tabernacled with us" (John 1:14) extends to the coming kingdom age, when He will again “sukkah” with us during his glorious reign from Zion.

This year Sukkot begins just after sundown on Wednesday, October 16th (i.e., Tishri 15 on the Jewish calendar). The festival is celebrated for seven days (i.e., from Tishri 15-21) during which we "dwell" in a sukkah -- a hut of temporary construction, with a roof covering (schach) of raw vegetable matter (i.e., branches, bamboo, etc.). The sukkah represents our dependence upon God’s shelter for our protection and divine providence. We eat our meals in the sukkah and recite a special blessing (leshev Ba-Sukkah) at this time.

In addition to the Sukkah, the most prominent symbol of Sukkot is the arba'at ha-minim (אַרְבַּעַת הַמִּינִים) - "the Four Species," or four kinds of plants explicitly mentioned in the Torah regarding the festival of Sukkot: “On the first day you shall take: 1) the product of goodly trees (etrog), 2) branches of palm trees (lulav), 3) boughs of leafy trees (hadas), and 4) willows of the brook (aravot), and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days” (Lev. 23:40). We wave the “four species” (held together as a bouquet with the etrog) and recite a blessing (netilat lulav) to ask God for a fruitful and blessed year.

Sukkot is effectively the conclusion of the Fall Holiday season and is the last of the three Shelosh Regalim [the three annual pilgrimage festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot (Deut. 16:16)]. It can be argued that Sukkot is the climax of all the festivals in Scripture.... Everything leads to it as a culmination in God’s prophetic plan. It is interesting to compare the use of words relating to simchah (joy) in the description of these three festivals. Regarding Pesach, the word simchah does not appear at all (Deut. 17:1-8); regarding Shavuot (Pentecost), it appears only once (Deut. 17:11); but, regarding Sukkot, the word simchah appears several times:"You shall keep the Feast of Sukkot seven days, when you have gathered in the produce... You shall rejoice in your feast... because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful" (Deut. 16:13-15).

In fact, in ancient Israel, the joy of Sukkot was so great that it became known simply as "the Feast" (1 Kings 12:32). It was a time of many sacrifices (Numbers 29) and a time when (on Sabbatical years) the Torah would be read aloud to the people (Deut. 31:10-13).

From a spiritual perspective, Sukkot corresponds to the joy of knowing our sins were forgiven (during Yom Kippur) and also recalls God’s miraculous provision and care after the deliverance from bondage in Egypt (Lev. 23:43). Prophetically, Sukkot anticipates the coming kingdom of Yeshua wherein all the nations shall come up to Jerusalem to worship the LORD during the festival (see Zech. 14:16). Today Sukkot is a time to remember God’s Sheltering Presence and Provision for us for the start of the New Year. May the Lord our God help us all to receive the grace and blessing of his glory.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

Deut. 16:13a Hebrew reading:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/deut16-13a-jjp.mp3

Hebrew page:

https://hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/deut16-13a-lesson.pdf

More about Sukkot (Tabernacles):

https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Sukkot/sukkot.html

10.13.24 • Facebook

from Today’s email by Israel365

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

[athymelyreply]

needed to write them out so putting it under a cut

Rosh Hashanah

Tisha b’av

tu b’av

tu bi’shvat

Yom Kippur

Purim

Pesach

Shavuot

sukkot

Yom hashoah*

simchat torah

Chanukah

Shabbat (weekly)

Yom hazikaron*

(Something) b’omer

rash chodesh (not sure if this one is a holiday if it is I think it’s minor)

That’s all I’ve got off the top of my head I think. So like. Solidly 14, unsure on 2 others.

*both memorial days not traditional religious holidays

Non-jews of tumblr:

If possible, please write your answers in the tags!

[help-help-i-need-an-adult]

Hello, saw you asked about the most important Jewish holiday. I will try to answer to the best of my knowledge and based on my experience as an Orthodox Jewish person.

So, the thing is, there isn't a "most important Jewish holiday". There are holidays that are in the Torah (rosh hashanah, yom kippur, sukkot, shmini atzeret/simchat torah, pesach and shavuot), holidays that aren't in the Torah (chanukah, tu bishvat, purim) and holidays that are weird (tu be'av).

Holidays that are in the Torah are obviously more "important" and they also typically have a full on "chag" in them - a day that is like shabbat.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom kippur, sukkot and shmini atzeret are all on the same month and are very close to each other. They got the name "Yamim Nora'im" ("terrible days"). in rosh hashanah and yom kippur we get judged and in sukkot we start the year clean (sort of) and start asking for rain. If you're looking for the "holiday season" of Judaism - that's the closest you can get.

Pesach is the holiday about the Exodus and marks the beginning of the Jewish people and the Jewish nation so that could also count as important...

TL;DR - chanukah is obe of the MINOR holidays in Judaism since it is not ordered in the Torah. There's no clear "most important" holiday in Judaism.

Thank you for the information! I really appreciate you being willing to share that with me ❤️

[directlyat-thesun-moved]

What's your favorite holiday?

I don’t like holidays but probably pesach (Passover) or Chanukah cause food.

[bailey-writes]

So You Want Your OC to be Jewish

So you’re writing a story and you want to make a Jewish character—great! I’m here to help. I always want more Jewish representation but I want good Jewish representation, so this is my attempt to make a guide to making a Jewish character. What are my credentials? I’m Jewish and have been my whole life. Obligatory disclaimer that this is by no means comprehensive, I don’t know everything, all Jews are different, and this is based on my experiences as an American Jew so I have no idea, what, if any, of this applies to non-American Jews. 

If there’s anything you want me to make a post going more into detail about or if there’s anything I didn’t mention but you want to know please ask me! I hope this is helpful :) Warning, this is long.

Jew PSA

If you are Jewish you can use the word Jew(s), e.g. “She’s dating a Jew.” If you are not Jewish you cannot use the word Jew(s). This is not up for debate. Non-Jews calling us Jews has a negative connotation at best. Don’t do it and don’t have your characters do it.

Basics, Plus My Random Thoughts that Didn’t Fit Anywhere Else

A confusing enduring issue is, what is Judaism? It’s a religion, but some Jews aren’t religious; is it a race? A nationality? A culture? A heritage? The only constant is that we are seen as “other.” There’s a lot of debate, which makes it confusing to be Jewish and as such it’s common for Jews to struggle with their Jewish Identity. However many people agree that Jews are an ethnoreligious group, aka Judaism is a religion and an ethnicity.

Temple/Synagogue/Shul = Jewish place of worship. Shul is usually used for Orthodox synagogues.

Keeping kosher = following Jewish dietary rules: meat and dairy can’t be eaten together and you can’t eat pork or shellfish. Fish and eggs are pareve (aka neutral) and can be eaten with meat or dairy (but again not both at the same time.) When eating meat it has to be kosher meat (e.g. kosher Jews are allowed to eat chicken, but not all chicken is kosher. I know it’s kinda confusing I’m sorry.) Kosher products in stores will have symbols on them to identify them as kosher. If someone is kosher they’ll probably have separate sets of utensils/plates/cookware/etc. for meat and dairy

Shabbat/Shabbos/Sabbath = holy day of the week, day of rest, lasts from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Depending on observance Jews might have Shabbat dinner, attend Shabbat services, or observe the day of rest in its entirety (making them shomer Shabbat)

Someone who is shomer Shabbat will refrain from any of the prohibited activities. These can easily be looked up but include: working, writing, handling money, cooking, and using technology.

Bat/Bar/B’nai Mitvzah = tradition where a Jewish boy/girl becomes a man/woman. Celebrated at 13-years-old for boys, 12- or 13-years-old for girls. Girls have Bat Mitzvahs (bat means daughter in Hebrew), boys have Bar Mitzvahs (bar means son in Hebrew) and twins or two or more people having one together have a B’nai Mitzvah. They will study for this for months and then help lead services and, depending on observance level, read from the Torah. The ceremony is often attended by family and friends and followed with a celebration of sorts (in America usually this means a brunch and/or party.)

Goy/gentile = non-Jew. These words are not slurs, they are literally just words. Plural of goy is goyim and is a Yiddish word, plural of gentile is gentiles.

Jewish holidays follow the Hebrew calendar, meaning that according to the current solar/Gregorian calendar the dates of our holidays are different each year.

Jewish law recognizes matrilineal inheritance. This means that Jewish law states your mother has to be Jewish for you to be Jewish. This is because of reasons from biblical times that I can explain if you wanna come ask, but as you can imagine is a bit outdated. While Orthodox Jews might embrace this idea and only consider someone Jewish if their mom is Jewish, many Jews are more flexible on the idea (and yes, this does cause tension between Orthodox Jews and other Jews at times.)

Judaism =/= Christianity

Some people think Judaism is just Christianity without Jesus (some people don’t even realize we don’t believe in/celebrate Jesus so newsflash, we don’t) and that’s just wrong. Yes both religions share the Old Testament, so they also share some history and beliefs, but the entire ideologies of the religions are different. In brief, they are similar in some ways but are not the same.

What seems to me to be the biggest difference is that Christianity (from what I understand) has a heavy focus on sins, more specifically repenting for/gaining forgiveness for your sins. In Christianity you are born tainted by original sin. In Judaism we believe everyone is born pure and free from sin and everyone is made in God’s image. Judaism has some concept of sin, but doesn’t focus on them and instead focuses on performing Mitzvot (plural, singular form is mitzvah. Direct translation is “commandment” but basically means good deed or act of kindness. It also relates to the commandments, so following the commandments is also performing mitzvot.) Examples of mitzvot include anything from saying a prayer or lighting Shabbat candles to helping a stranger or donating to charity (called tzedakah). One of the main tenets of Judaism is tikkun olam, which directly translates to “repair the world” and means exactly what it says on the tin. Instead of focusing on being forgiven for doing bad Judaism focuses on doing good. The only day we focus on past wrongdoings is Yom Kippur, one of our most holy holidays, discussed below.

Holidays

Rosh Hashanah – The Jewish New Year, occurs around September and lasts for two days, though Reform Jews often only celebrate the first day. Day of happiness and joy, celebrated by eating sweet things for a “sweet new year” (often apples dipped in honey) and circular challah to represent the end of one year and beginning of another. Also celebrated with services and blowing the shofar (rams horn.) Some spend the day in prayer and/or silent meditation. Possible greetings: chag sameach (happy holiday; can be said on almost any holiday), Shana Tovah, or happy new year (which is what Shana Tovah means, some people just say it in English.)

Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement. Occurs ten days after the start of Rosh Hashanah. One of if not the most solemn day for Jews, but also the most holy. The day is spent reflecting on yourself and any past wrongdoings and atoning. The day (sundown the night before to sundown the day of) is spent fasting, a physical way of atoning. We do this in hopes of being “written in the Book of Life” and starting the year with a clean slate. The shofar is blown at the end of the holiday. Most Jews will end the fast with a grand meal with family and friends. Most common greeting is “have an easy fast,” but happy new year is still appropriate.

Sukkot – Celebrates the harvest, occurs on the fifth day after Yom Kippur and lasts seven days. Celebrated by building a temporary hut outdoors called a sukkah and having meals inside it, as well as shaking palm fronds tied together (called a lulav) and holding a citrus called an etrog. Very fun and festive holiday. Possible greetings include chag sameach or Happy Sukkot.

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah – Some Jews (mostly Reform Jews and Jews living in Israel) combine both holidays into one day while some celebrate them as two separate days. Either way they occur immediately after Sukkot. Shemini Atzeret is similar but separate from Sukkot and features a prayer for rain; Sukkot is not mentioned in prayers and the lulav isn’t shaken but you do eat in the sukkah. Simchat Torah celebrates finishing reading the Torah, which we will then begin again the next day. It’s a festive holiday with dancing and fun. Some Temples will roll the entire Torah out and the children will run under it. Appropriate greeting for both would be chag sameach.

Rosh Hashanah through Simchat Torah are referred to as the High Holidays.

Chanukah – We all know about Chanukah, celebrating the reclaiming of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. The most represented Jewish Holiday there is. Unfortunately it’s one of the least significant holidays for us. Occurs around November or December and lasts eight days and nights. Celebrated by lighting candles in the Menorah each night with a prayer and kids usually get gifts each night. Also celebrated with spinning tops called dreidels, fried foods like doughnuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew; usually the jelly filled ones) and potato pancakes called latkes. Greetings: happy Chanukah or chag sameach.

Tu B’Shevat – Birthday of the trees, basically Jewish Arbor Day. Minor but fun holiday, sometimes celebrated by planting trees. Occurs around January or February.

Purim – Celebrates how Queen Esther of Persia defeated Haman and saved her people, the Jews. Occurs in Spring. Festive holiday traditionally celebrated by dressing in costumes, eating sweets, and giving tzedakah (it’s also technically commanded you get drunk so woohoo!) Whenever Haman’s name is mentioned you make a lot of noise, booing and using noisemakers called groggers. Greetings: happy Purim, chag Purim, or chag sameach.

Passover/Pesach – Celebrates the Jews being freed from slavery in Egypt. Occurs in Spring and lasts eight days. The first two nights (some only celebrate the first night) are celebrated with seder, a ritual meal with certain foods, practices, prayers, and readings from a book called the Haggadah and often attended by family and friends. Most famous prayer/song of the holiday is the four questions, which ask why that night is different from all other nights and is traditionally sung by the youngest child at the seder. The entire holiday is spent not eating certain foods, mostly grain or flour (the food restrictions are complicated and differ based on denomination so look it up or ask a Jew.) We eat a lot of matzah during Pesach, which is like a cracker kinda. I personally hate it but some people actually like it. Greetings: happy Passover, chag pesach, or chag sameach.

Tisha B’Av – Anniversary of the destruction of the Temple. Occurs in Summer. Very sad, solemn day. Some celebrate by fasting from sunrise to sunset. Not the most widely celebrated holiday. Some also commemorate the Holocaust (also called the Shoah) on this day as it was the destruction of a figurative temple.

Denominations

There are a bunch of denominations in Judaism, we’ll go into it briefly.

Religious denominations:

Reform/Reformed: This is the least religiously observant level. Often Reform Jews don’t keep kosher or observe Shabbat, their services on Shabbat will use instruments. Reform Jews probably attend services for the high holidays at the very least and probably had a Bat/Bar Mitzvah. Might say they consider themselves more culturally Jewish. Their Temple/Synagogue will be the most “liberal”—aka have more female/diverse Rabbis and a more diverse congregation. I’m Reform and my Temple’s lead Rabbi is a woman and we used to have a Rabbi who’s a queer single mother.

Conservative: More religiously observant and more generally traditional. Might keep kosher or observe Shabbat, but not necessarily. Services likely won’t use instruments (not supposed to play instruments on Shabbat). Most likely had a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, but girls might not read from the Torah, though this depends on the congregation. They do allow female Rabbis, but in my experience it’s less common.

Modern Orthodox: Very religiously observant but also embrace modern society. Will keep kosher and observe Shabbat. Men will wear kippot (singular=kippah) and tzitzit under their shirts. Women will cover their hair (if they’re married), most likely with a wig, and wear modest clothing (only wear skirts that are at least past their knees and long sleeves). Emphasis on continued study of Torah/Talmud. Parents will likely have jobs. Might have larger families (aka more children) but might not. Services will be segregated by gender, girls won’t read from the Torah publicly, and female Rabbis are very rare. Children will most likely attend a religious school. Will attend shul services every Shabbat and for holidays.

note: there are some people who fall somewhere between modern Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox, or between any two denominations really. as you can imagine people don’t all practice the exact same way.

Ultra-Orthodox: Very religiously observant and not necessarily modern. Will keep kosher and observe Shabbat. Men will wear kippot or other head coverings and tzitzit under their shirts, and are also often seen wearing suits. Women will cover their hair (if they’re married) with a wig or scarf and wear modest clothing (only wear skirts that are at least past their knees and long sleeves). Emphasis on continued study of Torah/Talmud. Men might have jobs but might instead focus on Jewish studies, while women most often focus on housework and child-rearing. Don’t believe in contraception (but this is kinda nuanced and depends). Will often have very large families because having children is a commandment and helps continue the Jewish people. Might be shomer negiah which means not touching members of the opposite sex aside from their spouse and some close family members. Services will be segregated by gender, girls won’t read from the Torah publicly, and there won’t be female Rabbis. Children will attend a religious school. Will attend shul services every Shabbat and for holidays.

Ethnic denominations (the different denominations do have some differences in practices and such but tbh I don’t know much about that so this is just the basics):

Ashkenazi: Jews that originate from Central/Eastern Europe. Yiddish, a combination of Hebrew and German, originated from and was spoken by Ashkenazim and while it’s a dying language it’s spoken among many Orthodox Jews and many Jews of all levels know/speak some Yiddish words and phrases. Majority of Jews worldwide are Ashkenazi.

Sephardi/Sephardic: Jews that originate from the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, and southeastern Europe. Ladino, a combination of Old Spanish and Hebrew, originated from and was spoken by Sephardim. It is also a dying language but is still spoken by some Sephardim. After Ashkenazi most of the world’s Jews are Sephardic.

Mizrahi: Jews that originate from the Middle East and North Africa.

Ethiopian Jews: Community of Jews that lived in Ethiopia for over 1,000 years, though most have immigrated to Israel by now.

Stereotypes/Tropes/Controversies/Etc.

There are so many Jewish stereotypes and shit and I ask you to please be mindful of them. Stereotypes do exist for a reason, so some people will fit stereotypes. This means your character might fit one or two; don’t make them fit all of them. Please. Stereotypes to keep in mind (and steer away from) include:

All Jews are rich.

All Jews are greedy.

All Jews are cheap/frugal.

All Jews are [insert job here]. We’ll go into this more below.

All Jews hate Christians/Muslims/etc.

All Jews are white. 

First of all Ethiopian and Mizrahi Jews exist, many Sephardi are Hispanic, and today with intermarriage and everything this just isn’t true.

All Jews have the same physical features: large and/or hooked nose, beady eyes, droopy eyelids, red hair (this is an old stereotype I didn’t really know existed), curly hair.

Many Jews do have somewhat large noses and curly hair. I’m not saying you can’t give these features to your characters, but I am saying to be careful and don’t go overboard. And don’t give all of your Jewish characters these features. As a side note, it is common at least among American Jews that girls get nose jobs. Not all, but some.

Jews are secretly world elite/control the world/are lizard people/new world order/ any of this stuff. 

STAY AWAY FROM. DO NOT DO THIS OR ANYTHING LIKE THIS. If you have a character that’s part lizard, do not make them Jewish. If you have a character that’s part of a secret group that controls the entire world, do not make them Jewish.

Jews have horns. If you have characters with horns please don’t make them Jewish.

Jews killed Jesus.

The blood libel. Ew. No.

The blood libel is an antisemitic accusation/idea/concept that back in the day Jews would murder Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals and sometimes even for consumption (did I mention gross?) Not only did this just not happen, but it’s actually against Jewish law to murder, sacrifice, or consume blood. Yes these accusations really happened and it became a main reason for persecution of Jews. And some people still believe this shit.

Jews caused The Plague.

The reason this conspiracy exists is because many Jews didn’t get The Plague and the goyim thought that meant it was because the Jews caused it/cursed them. The real reason Jews didn’t get it is because ritual hand-washing and good hygiene kept them from getting it. Sorry that we bathe.

Jewish mother stereotype.

Ok, listen. I know stereotypes are mostly a bad thing but I have to admit the Jewish mother stereotype is not far off. Jewish moms do tend to be chatty and a little nagging, are often very involved in their children’s lives, and they are often trying to feed everyone (although they don’t all cook, my mom hates cooking.) They also tend to be big worriers, mostly worrying about their family/loved ones. They also tend to know everyone somehow. A twenty minute trip to the grocery store can turn into an hour or two long trip because she’ll chat with all the people she runs into.

Jewish-American Princess (JAP) ((I know calling Japanese people Japs is offensive. Jews will call girls JAPs, but with a completely different meaning. If that’s still offensive I am sorry, but just know it happens.))

This is the stereotype that portrays Jewish girls/women as spoiled brats basically. They will be pampered and materialistic. Do these girls exist? Definitely. I still recommend steering away from this stereotype.

Names

Listen. Listen. There are some names that Jews just won’t have. I won’t speak in definites because there are always exceptions but you’ll rarely find a Jew named Trinity or Grace or Faith or any form of Chris/Christopher/Christina etc. Biblical names from the Old Testament? Absolutely Jews will have those names they’re actually very common.

I’m in a Jewish Sorority. My pledge class of ~70 girls had five Rebeccas and four Sarahs. Surprisingly only one Rachel though.

When it comes to last names I have two thoughts that might seem contradictory but hear me out: a) give your Jewish OC’s Jewish surnames, b) don’t give your Jewish OC’s the most Jewish surname to ever exist.

By this I mean I would much rather see a character named Sarah Cohen or Aaron Levine than Rachel Smith. Just that little bit of recognition makes a happy exclamation point appear over my head, plus it can be a good way to hint to readers that your OC is Jewish.

On the other hand, please don’t use the most stereotypical Jewish names you’ve ever heard. If you have five Jewish OCs and one of them is Isaac Goldstein then fine. If Isaac Goldstein is your only Jewish OC I might get a little peeved. There are tons of common Jewish surnames that are recognizable and easy to look up, so don’t revert to the first three that come to mind. Maybe it’s just me, but I find it yucky, for lack of a better word.

Jobs

We all know there are certain jobs that are stereotypical for Jews to have. We’re talking lawyer, dentist, doctor, banker type stuff. To an extent these stereotypes exist for a reason, many Jews go into those careers. Do not make these the only careers your Jewish OCs have. Stereotypes might have reasoning behind them but it doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful. If you have multiple Jewish OCs some of them can have these careers, but not all of them. I do know a lot of Jewish lawyers, dentists, and doctors. I also know accountants, people involved in businesses (“mom, what does Brad do?” “he’s a businessman” sometimes there just aren’t more specific words), people involved in real estate. I don’t actually know any bankers personally, and with money and stuff being one of the most common and harmful Jewish stereotypes I would suggest steering away from that.

These are common fields for Jews, but Jews can have literally any job. Please feel free to get creative. And if you have more than one Jewish OC you can think about making one of them a Rabbi, but DON’T do this if they’re the only Jewish OC. Please.

Yiddish

So I mentioned Yiddish earlier. Like I already said, it’s not a very widely used language anymore but there are some words and phrases that are still used by a lot of Jews (in America at least.) Here’s a list that is absolutely not comprehensive:

Oy vey = oh no

Shvitzing = sweating (but not just a little bit. Shvitzing is like SWEATING)

Kvetch/kvetching = whine/whining or complain/complaining

Mazel tov = congratulations; this is the same in Yiddish and Hebrew

Chutzpah = nerve or gall (e.g. “He’s got a lot of chutzpah for breaking up over text like that”)

Kismet = fate; I just learned this is Yiddish

Bubbe and Zayde = grandma and grandpa

Schelp/schlepping = drag/dragging, can also mean carry or move (e.g. “I had to schlep the bag all around town” doesn’t mean they literally dragged it)

Schmutz = dirt or something dirty (e.g. “you have schmutz on your face”)

Schmatta = literally means rag but can be used to refer to ratty blankets or clothes

Plotz = collapse (usually used in the sense of “I’m so tired I might plotz” or “she’s gonna be so excited she’s gonna plotz”)

Schmuck/shmendrick = both mean more or less the same, a jerk or obnoxious person

Shtick = gimmick, routine, or act (can be used like (“I don’t like that comedian’s shtick” or “he always makes himself the center of attention it’s his shtick”)

Spiel = long speech, story, or rant

There’s so many more so look them up and think about using them, but don’t overdo it. A Jewish person isn’t gonna use a Yiddish word in every sentence (or even every day or every few days.)

Israel

In my community at least it’s very common that by the time your college-aged that you’ll have been to Israel at least once.

Israel is a controversial topic within the Jewish community and in the world. It’s sensitive and complex. I really, really suggest not getting into it. Just don’t bring it up because no matter what you say someone will be unhappy. Just don’t do it.

Ashkenazi Disorders

Ashkenazi Jews have some sucky genes (I’m Ashkenazi so I can say this, you cannot.) These sucky genes cause certain disorders to be more prevalent for us. Children only get the disorder if both parents are carriers of the disorder, so Jews usually get genetic testing done before having children. If both parents are carriers the risk of the child getting the disorder is high, so parents might reconsider or have some indecisiveness/fear. Some of these are:

Tay-Sachs

Cystic Fibrosis

Canavan Disease

Familial Dysautonomia

Gaucher Disease

Spinal Muscular Atrophy  

Fanconi Anemia

Mucolipidosis IV

Niemann-Pick Disease

Torsion Dystonia

Bloom Syndrome

Ashkenazi Jews also have a high prevalence of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women and increase the risk of breast and prostate cancer in men.

Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Lactose Intolerance are also very prevalent

In a dorm of like 40 Jews, six of them had Crohn’s.

Ways to Show Your OC is Jewish

Wears Jewish jewelry, e.g. Star of David (also called Jewish Star and Magen David), Chai symbol (means life), jewelry with Sh’ma prayer, or hamsa (but beware this symbol is used outside of Judaism).

Mentions their temple, their Rabbi, having a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, going to Hebrew School, Shabbat, or a holiday coming up.

Have someone ask them a question about Judaism.

Have someone notice they have a mezuzah on their door. 

Most Jews will have a mezuzah on the doorframe of the front door of their house/apartment, but they could even have one for their dorm room or whatever. It’s traditional to kiss your hand then touch the mezuzah when walking through the door, but most Jews don’t do this every time, at least not most Reform or Conservative Jews.

Have them call out antisemitism if you’re feeling spicy

The end! I hope this helped and if you have any questions my ask box is always open!

[hineini]

don’t give me shit like that

Someone I had it easy understanding as an uncle during my childhood according to how frequently I saw him has come to receive recognition as my father’s boyfriend since they have many a date watching (obviously American) football at my home. He came in making it known he hoped I will have a merry Christmas tomorrow despite his complete awareness I’m Jewish and thus don’t celebrate Jesus’ birthday, much as I have total respect for anyone who celebrates his appearance on earth millennia ago. 

I obviously gave him polite shit, making it known once more that I’m Jewish and so have different holidays I celebrate and his Christmas sentiments ought to have been directed toward my mother and father who celebrate. His response was to, in effect, attempt to convince me I should-or should want to, choose your analysis-celebrate since, to throw one of his quotes in, Jesus was Jewish and I thus have full right to do so without regard to my Judaism. 

He obviously earned a decent retort of mine through making that sentence audible. Simply respecting someone doesn’t suffice for me to celebrate their appearance on earth; heck I’m uncomfortable celebrating my own birthday, half based off the fact celebrating that date means I’m indirectly celebrating Trump’s too since he’s exactly 42 years older than me and half according to the fact my original birth certificate had somebody else’s name written on it. 

No; Christmas isn’t mine to celebrate any more than any other religious holiday outside my faith is. It’s obviously easy for me to respect other religious holidays and offer appropriate greetings as necessary but I don’t feel right marking sacred times that aren't mine without others’ explicit permission.

Despite his respect for non-Christian faiths, I highly doubt George is about to do anything to celebrate any non-Christian holiday directly or indirectly. To that effect, we share something, may that receive proper respect and recognition. Don’t give me shit due to my failure to do something you think is right and I’m beyond game to return the favour; I couldn’t contemplate imposing celebration of anything of mine, whether small like Chanukah is (despite marketing doing everything it can to make others think otherwise) or enormous such as Pesach and Shavuot are. Then again, maybe that’s linked to the fact mine’s a minority faith and thus taken as queer according to religious heterosexism. I hear people are supposed to want to be straight if they’re gay or bisexual even if, like me, they’re out and proud on that level should any circumstance render coming out as necessary, God help our scandalous behaviour. No, they’ll probably approve, having created us like that.

[magnetothemagnificent]

Hi, I just saw your post about Jewish high holidays, and I was wondering what Jewish holidays should be given off? I’m working on my Master’s and want to be a university professor eventually, and I want to make note of what days to never give assignments over one day, or what days to call professors attention to as a TA. I remember getting a midterm on Yom Kippur once and the girl behind me struggling to plan writing it early so she could go home, and I don’t want to make anyone deal with that

So there's different "levels" of holidays in Judaism, especially in regards to observance.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year and a fast day, and I think it's a given it should be given off. It's honestly upsetting it's not a mandated day-off in the US.

The appropriate well-wish for a gentile to give to a Jewish person in the days coming up to Yom Kippur is "Have a meaningful day."

Rosh HaShana is the Jewish New Year, and it's two days long. Ideally I would give off for Rosh HaShana as well.

The appropriate well-wish is "Shana Tova" ("Have a good year") or "Have a sweet new year"

Pesach (Passover) is also super important in Judaism, especially the Seder, which in Israel is one night and outside of Israel is two nights. I would give off for the first two days of Pesach if possible.

The appropriate well-wish is "Chag Sameach" ("Happy Holiday") or "Happy Pesach"

Sukkot and Shavuot are Regalim, (Pesach is the third Regel) which means they are important agricultural pilgrimage holidays. Nowadays we don't have the Temple so there's no pilgrimage, but Sukkot and Shavuot are also super important. Sukkot begins five days after Yom Kippur, and the first two nights outside of Israel are observed as important holidays. (One night in Israel). Sukkot is technically a week long, as is Pesach, but work is permitted in certain cases on Chol HaMoed (days that aren't the begining holidays but are still important).

The appropriate well-wishes are "Chag Sameach" or "Happy Sukkot/Shavuot"

EDIT: Forgot to mention Tisha B'Av. Tisha B'Av is the saddest day of the year and a fast day, and it's one of the most difficult fasts because it's long and during the hot Summer. I would be patient with students/workers and allow them time off if they need it.

The appropriate well-wish is "have a meaningful day."

These are the holidays for which work isn't permitted, and the laws follow similar laws to Shabbat.

There are other important holidays, during which work is permitted, but it would still be ideal to allow students/workers to miss an hour or two for services.

Purim is a holiday commemorating Mordechai and Esther's victory over Haman. The day before Purim is observed by some as a fast day, so I would be patient with workers/students on this day. One of the Mitzvot of Purim is reading/ hearing the Megilla being read, which is done the night of Purim (so the night before technically, since Jewish days begin the night before) and during Purim day. Often Megilla reading is done during Morning Services at synagogue, so I would be patient with people who might come in late in the morning due to this.

The appropriate well-wish is "Chag Sameach" or "Happy Purim".

Chanukah is a fun holiday, but there really are no restrictions. The Chanukiah/Menorah is lit at night, so giving workers/students off is only an issue for night classes/shifts.

The appropriate well-wish is "Chag Sameach" or "Happy Chanukah".

Saturday in general is also a complicated day to have work due on. I know most professors don't have class on Saturday, but they may make assignments due on Saturday, Saturday night, or Friday night, which can be difficult for students who observe Shabbat. I would just give students the option to turn assignments in on Sunday instead.

I really appreciate your desire to create a more inclusive environment for Jewish students, and university environments would be so much better if there were more people like you.