Judaism: Festivals (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

Rosh Hashanah

What is Rosh Hashanah?

• Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year”, and it is the Jewish New Year

  • It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days (Ten Days of Repentance)

  • It is a time of reflection, repentance and renewal

  • It is usually celebrated in September or October (Tishrei in the Jewish calendar)

• The festival celebrates God as the Creator and King of the universe

• It begins a period of self-examination before Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

  • Jews reflect on their actions during the past year and seek forgiveness from God and others

  • It is a chance to make a fresh start and strengthen one’s relationship with God

What are the reasons for observing Rosh Hashanah?

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Rosh Hashanah

  • Observing Rosh Hashanah is obeying God’s command

    • Rosh Hashanah is a biblical commandment (Leviticus 23:24)

    • Jews observe it to fulfil the mitzvot (commandments) and show obedience to God

  • Rosh Hashanah marks the day God passes judgment on all people

    • Jews reflect on their actions and pray that their names will be written in the Book of Life

  • It is also a time for Teshuvah (Repentance)

    • It begins the Ten Days of Awe, leading to Yom Kippur

    • It encourages self-reflection and moral improvement

  • It is an opportunity for a fresh start for Jewish people

    • It marks the Jewish New Year, symbolising renewal and hope

    • It is an opportunity to begin anew in one’s relationship with God

• There are also many social reasons for observing Rosh Hashanah

  • To strengthen family and community relationships

    • During Rosh Hashanah, families come together for special meals and synagogue services

    • This builds a sense of unity, belonging and shared identity

  • It is also a time when Jews can make amends with others if there is any conflict

    • Rosh Hashanah encourages people to seek forgiveness from friends, family and neighbours

    • It improves social relationships and promotes peace within the community

  • Celebrating religious festivals such as Rosh Hashanah helps to maintain cultural and communal traditions

    • Celebrating Rosh Hashanah helps to maintain Jewish heritage and identity, especially in the diaspora

    • Shared rituals and customs (for example, eating certain foods) connect Jews across generations and locations

Yom Kippur

What is Yom Kippur?

• Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar

  • It is the final day of the Ten Days of Awe, which begin with Rosh Hashanah

  • It marks the time when God seals the Book of Life

• The purpose of Yom Kippur is that it is a day for atonement (forgiveness), repentance (Teshuvah) and reconciliation with both God and others

  • Jews believe that on this day, their fate is sealed for the coming year 

What happens during Yom Kippur?

• There are many significant practices that happen during Yom Kippur

  • Many Jews fast for a total of 25 hours

    • This act shows self-discipline and means that Jews can focus on spiritual matters

  • Jews attend five synagogue services, including the Kol Nidrei (opening prayer) and Neilah (closing prayer)

    • This also includes the Vidui (confession of sins)

  • Jews wear white during this time

    • This symbolises purity and spiritual renewal

  • During Yom Kippur, there is no work or physical comforts

    • All Jews should avoid bathing, perfumes, leather shoes, etc.

    • This helps shift focus entirely to repentance and God

• Jews ask forgiveness from other people before the day begins, as God only forgives sins against him

How is repentance shown during Yom Kippur?

• There are many ways in which Jews demonstrate repentance during Yom Kippur

• Yom Kippur is a day when individuals examine their thoughts and actions throughout the year and confess their sins publicly and privately

  • Jews take part in five synagogue services, reciting prayers of repentance

    • They say the Vidui, a formal confession of sins, both personally and communally

    • This shows honesty, humility and a desire to change

  • The practice of fasting and avoiding physical comforts

    • This shows self-discipline and ensures the focus can be on repentance

  • Jews ask others for forgiveness before Yom Kippur

    • This fulfils the teaching that Jews must make peace with others before repenting before God

How is Yom Kippur an opportunity for reconciliation and new resolutions?

• Jews view Yom Kippur as a chance to begin again, with a clean heart and better intentions

  • It is believed that new resolutions help Jews live more righteously in the year ahead

• The commitment to change (Teshuvah) is also part of this process

  • This is not a process that just involves saying sorry; it includes expressing regret, stopping the wrong action, making things right and promising not to repeat the sin

• Jews often make resolutions to be more active, caring and involved in the coming year

  • Yom Kippur provides an opportunity to make conscious decisions to change behaviours and habits

  • The event is a time for personal and spiritual development, encouraging a closer connection to God and a commitment to living a more meaningful life

  • Many make resolutions to be more honest, just and compassionate in their dealings with others

What happens at the synagogue services for Yom Kippur?

• Kol Nidrei takes place during the evening before Yom Kippur, just before sunset

  • The Kol Nidrei prayer is chanted and asks for the annulment of vows made to God that cannot be kept

• The next day (Yom Kippur) involves services that last most of the day and include:

  • Vidui (Confession): 

    • Repeated several times. The congregation confesses sins out loud using a set list

  • Amidah (Standing Prayer): 

    • Said multiple times and includes prayers for forgiveness and mercy

  • Al Chet: 

    • A longer confession of sins, listing many specific wrongdoings

  • Torah Readings: 

    • Include texts about atonement and repentance (for example, Leviticus 16)

  • Haftarah Reading: 

    • Often from the Book of Isaiah, focusing on true repentance and justice

  • Neilah (Closing Service): 

    • This is the final, intense prayer asking for God's forgiveness

  • At this point, the gates of heaven are said to be closing, so it is the last chance for atonement

  • It ends with the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), marking the end of the fast and Yom Kippur

• The purpose of the services is to ask God for forgiveness, reflect on past actions, promise to improve and unite the community in repentance

Pesach

What is the festival of Pesach?

• Pesach celebrates the release of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and is also known as 'Passover'

• The story of Passover is in the Book of Exodus, Chapter 12, in the Torah

  • God commanded that Jews celebrate this festival every year as a mark of freedom

• It is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Freedom, and prayers are said each year for those who are not free

• Jews remember how the Israelites left slavery behind them when Moses led them out of Egypt more than 3,000 years ago

• Moses went to see the Pharaoh many times, but each time he refused to release the Israelites

• Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send ten plagues on Egypt if the Pharaoh did not let them go

  • The ten plagues were:

    • Water turning to blood

    • Frogs

    • Gnats

    • Flies

    • Ill livestock

    • Unhealable boils

    • Hail and fire

    • Locusts

    • Darkness

    • Death of firstborns

IMAGE - The-Ten-Plagues-of-Eygpt.png (opens in a new tab)

• During the final plague, God is said to have told Moses to tell the Israelites to paint lamb's blood on their doorposts

  • This meant that the angel of death would know that Jewish people lived there

  • It would pass over that house and not kill the firstborn child

  • This is where the name Passover comes from

  • During the last plague, even the pharaoh's son was killed

• The pharaoh summoned Moses and told him to take the Israelites out of Egypt immediately

  • After more than 200 years of enslavement, the Jewish people were free

What is the significance of the Seder?

• During Pesach, rituals and practices are performed to celebrate the release of Jews from slavery and to remember the hardship endured

• In preparation for Pesach, Jews remove all grain products from their houses (called chametz)

  • Grain is not allowed to be eaten during the festival 

  • Leavened goods (containing yeast), such as bread, beer and oats, are also removed from the house 

    • Jews thoroughly clean their homes to remove any trace of these

  • This remembers the Israelites not having time to allow their bread to rise before they left Egypt

• Candles are lit to welcome Pesach

• The family goes to the synagogue, where special prayers are recited and passages from the Torah are read

• A special meal is held, called the Seder meal

The Seder meal

• There are many symbolic foods on the table for the Seder meal

  • A lamb bone, which symbolises the lamb that was sacrificed

  • A boiled egg, which is a symbol of new life

  • A green vegetable dipped in salt water to symbolise the tears of the Jews in slavery

  • Bitter herbs symbolising the bitterness of slavery

  • Charoset, which is a paste of apples, walnuts and wine, to represent the mortar the slaves used when being forced to build

  • Unleavened bread (Matzah) is eaten again as a reminder that their ancestors did not even have time to allow their bread to rise

• Four glasses of wine are drunk to symbolise joy, and one glass of wine is left for the Prophet Elijah, who will return to announce the coming of the Messiah

  • Wine is also a symbol of the lambs’ blood painted onto the doorposts to save Jewish children from the final plague

• The foods on the Seder plate each symbolise a part of the Exodus story, which is retold during the meal using a book of ritual called the Haggadah

Why do Jews observe Pesach?

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Pesach

• The festival remembers the Exodus of the Jews 

  • Jews observe Pesach to remember how God delivered them from slavery

  • It is a commandment in the Torah to teach each generation about this event

• Pesach is also a way of thanking God for saving the Israelites

  • It reminds Jews of God’s power, mercy and faithfulness to his covenant

• Pesach is an opportunity to follow God’s commandments

  • The Torah commands Jews to observe Pesach with specific rituals (for example, eating matzah and avoiding chametz)

    • Observing the festival shows obedience to God’s law

• Through the Seder meal and storytelling, Jews connect to their history

  • It reinforces a shared identity as God's chosen people and part of his covenant

• The Pesach Seder helps teach the next generation about Jewish beliefs, history and values

  • The Haggadah guides the Seder meal with stories, prayers and symbolic foods

• Pesach also has important social and community aspects

  • These help strengthen family, community and Jewish identity

• Social reasons for Jews to observe Pesach include:

  • Enjoying the Seder meal, which is a family-centred ritual that often includes extended family and guests

  • Encouraging family bonding and the passing down of traditions and stories

  • Educating the next generation

    • The Seder is designed to teach children about the Exodus

    • This also includes asking the Four Questions (Mah Nishtanah) and child-friendly storytelling

• This creates a shared social and religious identity

• Reinforcing community identity for Jewish people

  • Celebrating Pesach helps Jews feel part of a global community, all observing the same rituals

• There are also communal traditions in the preparation of the event

  • The clearing out of chametz (leavened products) is often a communal or family activity

• Many communities host group Seders, especially for those who are alone or in need

  • Jews are encouraged to welcome guests to their Seder, especially the poor or lonely

  • The event promotes hospitality, generosity and inclusiveness

Sukkot

What is the festival of Sukkot?

• Sukkot (also known as the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths) is a festival celebrated by Jewish people around the world

• The festival:

  • Reminds Jews to be thankful for the things they have

  • Lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days outside Israel

  • Is a harvest festival

  • Is a time to remember the Israelites’ time in the wilderness after the Exodus, when Moses led them out of slavery in Egypt 

• People celebrate Sukkot at home and at a synagogue with family and friends

• There is a large meal at the end

• Sukkot involves many religious practices that contain symbolic meaning

• The festival ends with a special service at the synagogue

  • During the service, people pray and hit the ground with sticks of willow leaves five times to get rid of any bad luck or sin

• A celebratory meal for family and friends follows the service

What is the significance of building and using a sukkah?

• Many people celebrate Sukkot by building a sukkah 

• A sukkah is a temporary hut that has a roof made of plants and leaves

• Families spend time in the sukkah during the Sukkot festival

  • The sukkah reminds Jewish people of the temporary homes made by Moses and the Israelites during their 40 years wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt

  • Spending time in the sukkah is also a way for Jews to honour their ancestors

  • The sukkah must be unstable enough to remind people of the fragility of life and dependence on God

  • During the festival, families eat meals inside the sukkah 

  • Some people choose to sleep in there as well

What are the Four Species?

• Sukkot also involves the “Four Species”

• The four species include a citrus fruit called an etrog (which is a bit like a lemon) and the lulav

• The lulav is a palm branch, but during Sukkot it refers to a bundle of three plants:

  • Palm branch (lulav)

  • Myrtle (hadass)

  • Willow (aravah)

• The Four Species (Arba Minim) are waved each day of Sukkot (except Shabbat)

Why are the Four Species waved?

• The lulav is a reminder of God’s presence everywhere

  • The lulav is waved in six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down

  • This symbolises that God is present all around and rules over the whole world

• The lulav also demonstrates the unity of the Jewish people because each plant represents different aspects of the Jewish people 

  • Etrog (taste and smell): Jews who study Torah and do good deeds

  • Lulav (taste only): Those with learning but not deeds

  • Hadass (smell only): Those who do good but do not study

  • Aravah (neither): Those who lack both

• Waving the lulav also signifies Jewish people giving thanks for the autumn harvest

  • It is a form of praise and prayer to God for providing food and sustenance

What are the reasons for observing Sukkot?

• There are many religious reasons why Jews observe Sukkot

• Waving the Four Species is fulfilling a Mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah

• Sukkot also remembers the wilderness journey of the Israelites 

  • During this time, they lived in temporary shelters, protected by God

• It is a time to thank God for the harvest

• Sukkot is also a time when Jewish people demonstrate trust in God

  • Living in a fragile sukkah reminds Jews to rely on God for protection, not material things

• Sukkot also has social significance because it strengthens family bonds, community life and a sense of shared identity

• During the festival, families build, decorate and eat meals together in the sukkah

  • Many families invite friends and guests, creating a joyful and welcoming atmosphere

  • This helps to strengthen family traditions and memories across generations

• Welcoming other people into the sukkah is a mitzvah (good deed) 

• This includes symbolically “welcoming” the seven biblical guests who are regarded as the leaders of the Jewish people 

  • Abraham

  • Isaac

  • Jacob

  • Moses

  • Aaron 

  • Joseph

  • David

• Sukkot can strengthen community ties

  • Synagogues and Jewish communities hold communal meals, events and services

  • Everyone shares in the celebration, which builds unity and belonging

• The event helps to educate children about Jewish history and traditions

  • Children help with building and decorating the sukkah

  • The experience teaches Jewish values and practices in an enjoyable and sociable way

• It also helps Jews to celebrate a shared identity

  • Jews around the world celebrate Sukkot at the same time, in similar ways

  • This helps to reinforce a global sense of community and continuity of tradition

Diversity between Jewish traditions

What are the different Jewish approaches to festivals?

• Orthodox and Reform Jews share the same festivals but differ in how they celebrate and what emphasis they place on each one

• Both Orthodox and Reform Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah

  • In Orthodox Judaism, Rosh Hashanah is celebrated over two days, following halakhic (Jewish legal) tradition

    • They hear the shofar (ram’s horn) in synagogue on both days

    • During the festival, there is a deep focus on repentance and divine judgment

  • In Reform Judaism, it is often celebrated for just one day

    • Services use modern liturgy and more inclusive language

    • There is a greater focus on personal renewal than on divine judgment

• Yom Kippur is also a festival that takes place in both Orthodox and Reform traditions

  • In Orthodox Judaism, followers fast for the full 25 hours

    • There are also strict rules during this time, such as no washing, leather shoes, perfume or marital relations

    • They spend most of the day in synagogue, and there are traditional prayers in Hebrew

  • In Reform Judaism, many fast, but allowances are made for those who may struggle with this

    • There are shorter or adapted services with some readings in English

    • There is more of a focus on moral reflection and forgiveness rather than ritual restriction

• All practising Jews celebrate Passover, but there are differences in how they practise it

  • Orthodox Jews remove all chametz (leavened products) from the home

    • They also eat only kosher for Passover food for eight days (seven in Israel)

    • There is a full Seder meal with all traditional readings from the Haggadah

  • In Reform Judaism, it is often celebrated for seven days only (even outside Israel)

    • Some Reform Jews use modernised Haggadot and inclusive readings

    • Some may adapt dietary laws, and there may be a symbolic removal of chametz rather than a total ban

• All Jewish traditions celebrate Sukkot, but in different ways

  • Orthodox Jews build, eat meals and sometimes sleep in a sukkah (temporary hut)

    • They also wave the lulav and etrog daily in synagogue

  • Reform Jews build a sukkah at home or in a synagogue for symbolic use

    • They might focus on themes of thankfulness and shelter rather than halakhic observance

• Hanukkah is also a common festival for all Jewish traditions

  • Orthodox Jews light the menorah each night, adding one candle each day

    • They also have traditional prayers and blessings said in Hebrew

    • They light the menorah (also called a hanukkiah) and pause daily activities for a short time

    • This allows them to give full attention to remembering the miracle of the oil and the rededication of the Temple

  • Reform Jews' celebration focuses on religious freedom and identity

    • The Menorah lighting may include songs, music and modern reflection

    • It is sometimes seen as a time for community outreach rather than a strict ritual