Bentleys in Israel: Relig. Holidays & Practices -- Muslim & Jewish

We arrived here (9/1/10) during the holy seasons for both Muslims & Jews. Ramadan was a month of fasting (between dawn & sunset), honoring the month when the Qu'ran was first revealed to the prophet Mohammed. It starts with the first sighting of the new moon in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.

During Ramadan's 1st week starting 8/1/11, a crescent moon was visible. There were brightly lighted homes & streets -- like Christmas!

A month of fasting is followed with feasting at the end of Ramadan, with Eid al-Fitr and three days of celebrating.

Outside our apt. over loudspeakers in our neighborhood, we heard the 5 calls to prayer -- at dawn, noon, mid-pm, sunset & bedtime. At

sunset the call came just before a cannon sounded an end to the day's fast.

The end of their holy days is signaled by 1st sighting of the next crescent moon. Muslims celebrated with many fireworks. We were surprised -- but shouldn't be!

**********************************

In 2010, Eid al-Fitr corresponded exactly with the start in autumn of Rosh HaShana', or Jewish New Year -- the beginning of 10 days of awe or repentance ("high holy days"). The blowing of rams' horns or shofars is still done then, just as it was in the temple and the coronation of kings. That was also done at Mt. Sinai (Exo. 20:18), at Jericho with Joshua (Exo. 6:20) & with Gideon (7:19).

On Friday 9/10/10, at the start of Rosh HaShana, the giant plaza at the Kotel of the Temple Mount was jammed with Orthodox Jews. They celebrated by singing, dancing & scripture reading. [No photos or other mechanical devices were allowed -- even pens to write in journals. We took this shot later.]

The high holy days ended with Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) on Sat., 9/18/10. That was the holiest day of the year for Jews. The whole country closed down, so LDS members did not drive to Sabbath services, but worshipped where they lived.

Next came a week of Sukkot -- The Feast of "Tabernacles" or "Booths" (9/24-30/10) -- denoting Israel's dwelling in booths while wandering for 40 years towards the promised land. Food is eaten in booths like this sukkah, for the last fruits of the season (Ex. 23:16, Lev. 23). Those really dedicated also sleep in their booths for 7 days.

In Oct. 2011, the Huntsmans built a sukkah on their JC patio -- with temporary walls, a roof covering of leaves and even celebration lights. Eric & Sammy slept there one night, until awakened by the 4:30 am Muslim call to prayer.

The people were commanded to "rejoice before the Lord for 7 days," with braided boughs of palm, myrtle, willows & citron (Lev. 23:40).

On Wed. 10/12/11, Marilyn, Shari & Arlene went to the Mahane Yehuda mkt. where seasonal foods are acquired for Sukkot.

There was a wide choice of fresh, healthy fruits & vegetables.

Many orthodox Jews also shopped for their Sukkot foods & branches.

Sukkot is one of 3 major feasts, including the springtime Passover (deliverance from bondage in Egypt) & Weeks (7 weeks or 50 days after Passover, hence "Pentecost") -- to celebrate both receipt of the Torah and the first fruits of the season [Exo. 34:22, 16; Deut. 16:9-10].

*******************************

The day after Sukkot is yet another holiday, Shemini' Atzeret' -- the 8th day, without work (Numbers 29:35). It is a day to petition the Lord for rain & a plentiful year. Also celebrated that day is Simchat Torah', ending the yearly cycle of reading the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible & the start of a new cycle.

Shavuot (Hebrew for "weeks"). This one-day festival came on Wed. 6/8/11. It ended 7 weeks or 50 days ("Pentecost") after Passover for the grain harvest or first fruits (Exo. 34:26, Deut. 16:10). Thus the book of Ruth -- the Moabite gleaner of wheat who converted to Judaism -- is read at that time. In fact, the birth & death of King David (her great grandson) was supposedly on shavuot.

Most of all, that festival celebrated Israel's receiving the Torah through Moses at Mt. Sinai. That event bound the chosen people to God by covenant.

Some devout Jews stayed up all night reading the Torah, then walked to the Kotel to greet the morning sunrise. Some of our students wanted to go.

*******************************

Tisha B'Av (9th day of Av -- a Jewish month). On 8/8-9/11 many Jewish tragedies on their same calendar date were mourned, starting with 1st Temple destr. (Babylonians in 586 B.C.) & 2nd Temple (Romans in 70 A.D.)

In 135 A.D. -- 65 Jewish years later -- Romans crushed the ill-fated Bar Khokhba Revolt. [See Jan. '11 post, The Herodian.]

On an earlier 9 Av, Moses' 12 spies brought back an evil report about the Promised Land -- resulting in 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

In 1290 AD the Jews were expelled from England & in 1492 Jews were expelled with the Moors from Spain -- both on 9 Av.

World War I broke out in 9 Av 1914 -- ultimately leading to devastation in Europe, World War II & the Holocaust.

On 9 Av 1994, the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina was bombed, killing 86 and wounding 300.

For practicing Jews this is the saddest day of the year. It started with fasting for 25 hours on sundown 8/8/11 and no work on 8/9/11. Books of sorrow & reflection like Job, Jeremiah & Lamentations were read by candlelight. Some dedicated Jews slept on the floor.