Essential Course in Jewish Evangelism
Understanding Important Jewish Festivals
Do you want to share the gospel with Jewish people? First, we need to enter their world and learn to appreciate their festive culture. Jewish festivals are like a historical documentary, recording the faith and traditions of this ancient people. Understanding important Jewish festivals is the first essential step in Jewish evangelism, which will help us build friendships with Jewish people and bring us closer together!



“Shanah Tova” (Wish you a good year) and “l’Shanah tovah tikateivu” (May you have a good year and be inscribed in the Book of Life) are Hebrew greetings used by Jews during the New Year. During the New Year, Jews eat some seasonal foods, especially apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year).



The day after the seven-day Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) ends is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. In Israel and among Reform Jews abroad, these are celebrated together on the 22nd of Tishrei, while Orthodox and Conservative Jews celebrate them over two days. Shemini Atzeret is recorded in Leviticus 23:36, but Simchat Torah is not a biblical holiday. It first appeared in the 13th-century Jewish mystical text, the Zohar.
The eight-day Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is when Jews light a nine-branched Hanukkah menorah. Hanukkah is not a festival required by the Torah. The only mention of Hanukkah in the Bible is in John 10:22: “Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter.”



Jewish Calendar
7th Month
Tishrei
8th Month
Cheshvan
9th Month
Kislev
10th Month
Tevet
11th Month
Shevat
12th Month
Adar
1st Month
Nisan
2nd Month
Iyar
3rd Month
Sivan
4th Month
Tammuz
5th Month
Av
6th Month
Elul

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of all Jewish festivals. Jews believe that God opens the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah and closes it at the end of Yom Kippur, deciding each person’s fate for the coming year. Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will especially repent to God during these days.


On this day, Jews are to dwell in booths for seven days (Leviticus 23:34-43). Building a unique booth in one’s yard and having the whole family eat or sleep in it is the main feature of Sukkot. Sukkot is a festival of thanksgiving, commemorating God’s abundant provision during the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.



Purim is not one of the Lord’s appointed festivals; this holiday originates from the book of Esther in the Bible. On Purim, everyone eats a traditional sweet treat called “Haman’s ears,” which is a sweet triangular pastry filled with poppy seeds, reminding people of how Queen Esther maintained her Jewish faith by eating vegetables in the palace.

The story of Passover is recorded in Exodus, and the New Testament further points out that Jesus is the Passover Lamb. On this day, roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs are to be eaten (Exodus 12:8). For Jews, Passover is not only the most popular holiday commemorating Jewish liberation but also the continuation of Jewish identity.



According to the Pentateuch, the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover week is the Feast of Weeks or Harvest Festival, called Pentecost in the New Testament. Pentecost combines two main events: bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple, and the Israelites receiving the Torah from God at Mount Sinai after leaving Egypt.
Top 10 Countries with the Largest Jewish Populations

Footnotes and Reference from 30 Days of Prayer for Jewish People
Oct 2 | Jewish New Year
- High Holidays (or High Holy Days) refer to the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement in the month of Tishrei. The season of the High Holy Days begins on the first day of the previous month (Elul) for preparation and ends with the Eighth Day of Assembly (celebrating Simchat Torah) after the Feast of Tabernacles.
- Kasdan, Barney. 1993. God’s Appointed Times: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holy Days. Messianic Jewish Publisher. p.65-66.
Oct 4 | Top 10 Jewish Worldwide Population
- Sergio DellaPergola. 2021. “World Jewish Population, 2021.” In The American Jewish Year Book, Volume 121. Edited by Arnold Dashefsky and Ira M. Sheskin. Cham, Switzland: Springer. pp. 313-412.
- Core Jewish population includes those who identify as Jewish through Jewish faith (including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), converts to Judaism and those who identify as Jewish ethnically and culturally but have no religious affiliation. (For more information, please visit the website of the Taipei Caring for Jewish Mission Association [Chinese only]: https://www.tcfjma.org/)
Oct 5 | Reform Judaism
- Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities.University of California Press. 146.
- My Jewish Learning. “The Jewish Denominations.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-jewish-denominations/ - Jewish Virtual Library. “Reform Judaism.”
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/reform-judaism-2. - Dowley, Tim. 2018. Introduction to World Religions. Edited by Christopher Partridge. Third Edition. Fortress Press. Kindle Edition. p.629.
Oct 7| Orthodox Judaism
- Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities. University of California Press. p. 150.
- Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz. 2007. Encyclopedia of Judaism. Checkmark Books. p. 369.
- Dowley, Tim. 2019. A Brief Introduction to Judaism. Edited by Christopher Partridge and Tim Dowley. Fortress Press. p.100.
- My Jewish Learning. “Orthodox Judaism.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/orthodox-judaism/ - My Jewish Learning. “The Jewish Denominations.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-jewish-denominations/
Oct 9 | Conservative Judaism
- Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz. 2007. Encyclopedia of Judaism. Checkmark Books. p. 98.
- Dowley, Tim.2019. A Brief Introduction to Judaism. Edited by Christopher Partridge and Tim Dowley. Fortress Press. p.101.
- Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz.p.99
- Karesh, Sara E., and Mitchell M. Hurvitz.p.98-99.
Oct 11 | Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
- Hahn Tapper, Aaron J. 2019. Judaisms: A Twenty-First-Century Introduction to Jews and Jewish Identities. University of California Press. p.566.
- Kasdan, Barney. 1993. God’s Appointed Times: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Celebrating the Biblical Holy Days. Messianic Jewish Publisher. 78.
- Eisenberg, Joyce, and Ellen Scolnic. 2010. Dictionary of Jewish Words: A JPS Guide. Jewish Publication Society. Logos Edition. p.191.
- My Jewish Learning. “Yom Kippur 101.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yom-kippur-101/
- Eisenberg, Joyce, and Ellen Scolnic. p.191.
- My Jewish Learning. “9 Things You Didn’t Know about Yom Kippur.” https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/9-things-you-didnt-know-about-yom-kippur/
Oct 13 | Who Is a Jew?
- Goldman, Shalom. 2018. “David Ben-Gurion Asks 51 Jewish Scholars: ‘Who Is a Jew?’” Tablet.
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/david-ben-gurion-who-is-a-jew. - Weiner, Rebecca. “Judaism: Who is A Jew?” Jewish Virtual Library.
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/who-is-a-jew. - Pew Research Center. 2013. “A Portrait of Jewish Americans, sidebar: who is a Jew.”
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/10/01/sidebar-who-is-a-jew.
Oct 15 | American Jews
- Author’s Note: At this time, the Dutch colony in Brazil had already been taken over by Portugal. With the royal families of Portugal and Spain united through marriage, many Jews, fearing the influence of the Inquisition, chose to flee Brazil. Given the Jews' ability to stimulate the local economy, the Dutch had adopted a policy of welcoming them.
- Sheskin, Arnold, and Ira Dashefsky. 2019. “United States Jewish Population, 2019.” In The American Jewish Year Book, 2019, Volume 119, edited by Arnold Dashefsky Ira M. Sheskin, 135–231. Cham, Switzland: Springer. P. 12-3
- Alper, Becka A., and Alan Cooperman. 2021. “Pew Research Center: Jewish American in 2020.” Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/jewish-identity-and-belief/.
Oct 16 | Feast of Tabernacles
- My Jewish Learning. “What happens in Synagogue on Sukkot.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/synagogue-on-sukkot/ - Goodman, Robert. 1990. Teaching Jewish Holidays: History, Values, and Activities. A. R. E. Publication. p.67.
- My Jewish Learning.
- Schorsch, Ismar. 2000. “The Seventy Bulls of Sukkot.” Jewish Theological Seminary. https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/the-seventy-bulls-of-sukkot/
Oct 19 | Canadian Jews
- Brym, Robert. 2022. “What the 2021 Census Reveals about Canada’s Jewish Community” The Canadian Jewish News. https://thecjn.ca/news/canada-jewish-census/.
- Posner, Menachem. “9 Facts About the Jews of Canada.” Chabad.org. https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/5397916/jewish/9-Facts-About-the-Jews-of-Canada.htm.
- In 1791, Canada was divided into two parts: Upper Canada and Lower Canada. Upper Canada referred to the upper reaches of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes region; Lower Canada referred to the lower reaches of the river to the estuary. (Reference: https://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1791/1791-06-upper-lower-canada.html)
- Schoenfeld, Stuart. “Jewish Canadians.” The Canadian Encyclopedia.
https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jewish-canadians. - Cohen, Sharonne. 2006. “Canadian Jewry.” My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/canadian-jewry/.
- Brym, Robert. 2022.
- Jewish Virtual Library. “Canada.”
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/canada. - Cohen, Sharonne. 2006.
Oct 21 | Brazilian Jews
- Esse é o site oficial da Confederação Israelita do Brasil (CONIB). https://www.conib.org.br/
- World Jewish Congress. “Brazil.” https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/BR
- Moraes, Marcus. 2016. “7 Things to Know about the Jews of Brazil.” St. Louis Jewish Light. https://stljewishlight.org/news/world-news/7-things-to-know-about-the-jews-of-brazil/.
- Author’s Note: The first group of American Jewish immigrants sailed from Recife to Dutch New Amsterdam, now New York City.
- US Department of State. “The JUST Act Report: Brazil.” https://www.state.gov/reports/just-act-report-to-congress/brazil/.
- Morae, Marcus. 2016.
Oct 22 | Hoshana Rabbah
- Zwebner, Dovi. “Hoshanah Rabba.” Sefaria.
www.sefaria.org/sheets/16895?lang=bi - BBoard of Jewish Education. “Hoshanah Rabba explained for kids.”
https://bje.org.au/knowledge-centre/explained-for-kids/jewish-year/hoshana-rabbah-explained-for-kids - My Jewish Learning. “What is Hoshanah Rabba?”
www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hoshanah-rabbah - Chabad.org. “Hoshanah Rabba.”
www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/757453/jewish/Hoshana-Rabbah.htm - The Rabbinical Assembly. 2003. “Supplement For Festivals — Hoshana Rabbah.”
www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/jewish-law/holidays/sukkot/or-hadash-hoshanot.pdf. p.212-213.
Oct 23 | Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
- Goodman, Robert. 1990. Teaching Jewish Holidays: History, Values, and Activities. A. R. E. Publication. p.81.
- Chabad.org. “What Is Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah?”
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4464/jewish/What-Is-Shemini-Atzeret-Simchat-Torah.htm - Goodman, Robert. p.81.
Oct 24 | Hanukkah
- My Jewish Learning. “The History of Hanukkah.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-history/ - Krasne, Ellie. 2020. “Hanukkah, Made in the U.S.A.” The Heritage Foundation.
https://www.heritage.org/religious-liberty/commentary/hanukkah-made-the-usa
Oct 26 | Purim
- My Jewish Learning. “Purim in the Community.”
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/purim-in-the-community/ - Chabad.org. “How to Celebrate Purim.”
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1362/jewish/How-to-Celebrate-Purim.htm - Shurpin, Yedhuda. “The History and Meaning of Hamantaschen.” Chabad.org.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/2872815/jewish/The-History-and-Meaning-of-Hamantaschen.htm - Freeman, Tzvi. “Do I have to get drunk on Purim?” Chabad.org.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1146095/jewish/Drinking-on-Purim.htm - Zaklikowski, Dovid. “Why Wear Purim Costumes.” Chabad.org.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1456808/jewish/Why-Wear-Purim-Costumes.htm - Freeman, Tzvi. “Do I have to get drunk on Purim?” Chabad.org.
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1146095/jewish/Drinking-on-Purim.htm
Oct 28 | Passover
- Author's Note: In the Jewish tradition, a new day starts at sunset. For example, while the 14th of Nisan falls on April 5th in the Gregorian calendar, it technically begins at sunset on April 4th.
- Author’s Note: After Israel was exiled to Babylon, they were influenced by its culture and changed some of the Jewish calendar month names to Babylonian names (see Nehemiah 2:1, Esther 3:7).
- Chabad.org. “Passover 2023 (Pesach).”
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover-2023-Pesach.htm - SOnline Video. 2016. “How to Set the Seder Plate for Passover.” My Jewish Learning.
https://youtu.be/r37_hNy9A1A. - Seitz, Abby. “10 Passover Customs from Around the World.” My Jewish Learning.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/10-passover-customs-from-around-the-world
Oct 30 | The Day the Torah Was Given
- c.f. Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-10
- Rich, Tracey R. “Shavuot.” Jewfaq.org.
https://www.jewfaq.org/shavot. - Rich, Tracey R. “The Counting of the Omer.” Jewfaq.org.
https://www.jewfaq.org/counting_the_omer. - Rich, Tracey R. “The Counting of the Omer.”
- Rich, Tracey R. “Shavuot.”
- Altein, Boruch. “The Shtei Halechem (Two Breads).” Chabad.org.
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2599670/jewish/The-Shtei-Halechem-Two-Breads.htm. - Chabad.org. “What is Shavuot.”
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609663/jewish/What-Is-Shavuot-Shavuos.htm