MINOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS

 

Minor Jewish holidays are described as such because they are not designated in the first five books of the Scriptures. These holidays commemorate various events throughout the histtory of the Jewish people and are to remind us of God's hand in all events.

 
N
A
M
E		 TISHA B'AV
(The Nineth of Av)
Pronounced Tee-shuh-buh-AHV		 THE SEVENTEENTH OF TAMMUZ
Pronounced Tah-Mooz		 ASARAH B'TEVAT
(The Tenth of Tevet)
Pronounced ah-sah-rah-buh TAY-VAHT		 ZOM GEDALIAH
(Fast of Gedaliah)
Pronounced Tsom-guh-DAL-yuh
D
A
T
E		 Av 09 on the Jewish Calendar, varies on Gregorian Calendar. Tammuz 17 on Jewish Calander. Varies on Gregorian Calendar. Tevat 10 on Jewish Calendar. Varies on Gregorian Calendar. Tishri 03 on Jewish Calendar. Varies on Gregorian Calendar.
C
O
M
M
E
M
O
R
A
T
E
S		 The day on which, according to tradition, the first Temple was destroyed. Tradition assigns these other sorrowful occurrences in Jewish history to this day.
  • Moses broke the tablets oof the Law upon seeing the people worshiping the Golden Calf.
     
  • God determined that the people freed from slavery in Egypt would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land due to rebelliousness.
     
  • The second Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70
     
  • The Jewish community in Spain was expelled in 1492.
 The day on which, according to tradition, Nebuchadnezzar's army broke the walls of Jerusalem. The day which, according to tradition, Nebuchadnezzar's army laid siege on Jerusalem The day on which Gedaliah, the Babylonian appointed governor of Judah and his associates were assassinated. This precipitated the sending of the Babylonian army against Judah
R
E
F		 Jeremiah 52:12,13 (Date given as 10th) Jeremiah 39:2
(Date given as 9th)		 Zechariah 8:19 (cf. 7:3,5) Zechariah 8:19 (cf. 7:3,5)
O
B
S
E
R
V
A
N
C
E		 A time of national mourning. On the Ninth of Av, the person does not eat from sunset to nightfall of the following day.
  • Community: (In Israel) mourning and weeping in prayer at the Wailing Wall (the only portion of the Temple still standing).
     
  • Synagogue: Reading from the book of Lamentations in a dirge-like chant. Worshipers in Orthodox synagogues remove shoes and sit on low stools or on the floor as a symbol of mourning
     
  • Home: The meal before the fast includes eggs, which are often symbolic of mourning.
 A time of national mourning. The fast lasts from sunrise to nightfall of the same day. A time of national mourning. The fast lasts from sunrise to nightfall of the same day. A time of national mourning. The fast lasts from sunrise to nightfall of the same day.
MESSIANIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Many of us firmly believe that these holidays look forward to the One who would be the Temple made without hands (Matthew 12:16, Mark 14:58, John 2:19,21) and that ultimately, these days will become feast days at the establishment of His Kingdom (Zechariah 8:19ff)