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Nowruz Day: Persian New Year

Nowruz Day, also known as the Persian New Year, is a vibrant cultural event celebrated by Jewish communities and others around the world. Typically falling close to the spring equinox, this ancient holiday symbolizes renewal, hope, and the joyous arrival of a new season. It is an event rich in tradition and heritage, bringing people together in a warm, celebratory atmosphere to honor centuries of history.

The Origins of Nowruz Day

Nowruz Day traces its roots back to ancient Persia, where it originated as a celebration of renewal and growth. Over time, Jewish communities in regions influenced by Persian culture embraced this day, adding their unique cultural layers to its observance. This enduring festival has been lovingly preserved through generations, becoming a shared cultural treasure celebrated in numerous countries throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, and beyond. Its longevity can be attributed to its universal themes of renewal and connection, which resonate across diverse communities.

For Jewish families in particular, Nowruz represents an opportunity to honor dual cultural identities while celebrating the shared values of unity, renewal, and hope for the future. From bustling metropolitan cities to peaceful rural towns, the festivities unite people across borders and generations.

Celebrating Nowruz Day Traditions

Wondering how to celebrate Nowruz? The day is marked by a host of joyous traditions. Festivities often start with the preparation of the iconic “haft-sin” table, featuring symbolic items such as sprouting greens, sweet puddings, and coins to represent renewal, prosperity, and abundance. Throughout the day, attendees enjoy traditional meals, including herb-studded rice dishes and pastries, connecting through the shared experience of food.

Lively cultural activities help bring Nowruz to life. Festivals, lectures, and discussions provide opportunities to reflect on history and meaning, while music and dance imbue the day with an extra spirit of celebration. Traditional attire is also proudly worn, showcasing intricate designs and patterns that tell stories of ancient craftsmanship and artistry.

Cultural Significance of Nowruz

The cultural significance of Nowruz extends far beyond its colorful traditions. For Jewish attendees, it offers a moment to reflect on history, identity, and the blending of cultural influences that have shaped their heritage. The event brings families and communities together, fostering a sense of unity and continuity while highlighting the beauty of diversity in Jewish cultural expression.

Nowruz Day isn’t just a celebration of a new year; it is a reminder of resilience, renewal, and the enduring human spirit. Whether you are a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, the experience is not only enriching but also deeply inspiring.

Looking for a Persian New Year celebration guide? Discover timeless traditions, meaningful customs, and rich cultural legacies that make Nowruz Day an unforgettable experience. Explore more about this day and plan your next cultural adventure with World Jewish Travel!

Mizrahi Remembrance Month

Mizrahi Remembrance Month is a deeply significant cultural event celebrated by Jewish communities worldwide. It typically falls in November, bringing together diverse Jewish traditions and histories. This special day is dedicated to commemorating the rich cultural heritage of Mizrahi Jews, who hail from Middle Eastern and North African countries. Founded by Jewish communities with roots in these regions, Mizrahi Remembrance Month serves as a powerful reminder of the vibrant cultures and traditions that flourished before the mass migrations of the 20th century. The event has grown over the years and is now celebrated in numerous countries, each adding its unique flair to the festivities.

Commemorative Events and Activities

The celebration of Mizrahi Remembrance Month is marked by a variety of activities that highlight the traditions and contributions of Mizrahi Jews. Attendees can immerse themselves in lectures and discussions that explore the history, challenges, and triumphs of Mizrahi communities. Festivals showcasing traditional music, dance, and art create a lively atmosphere, while culinary experiences offer a taste of authentic Mizrahi cuisine, rich with flavors and stories. Participants often don traditional attire, adding color and authenticity to the event. This day holds immense cultural significance, not only for preserving and promoting Mizrahi heritage but also for fostering a sense of unity and pride within the Jewish community. By celebrating Mizrahi Remembrance Month, attendees honor the past and ensure that the vibrant legacy of Mizrahi Jews continues to inspire future generations.

Image attribution:

All from: <https://www.jimena.org/mizrahi-heritage-month/#>

Jerusalem Day of Prayer for All Nations

The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is a prayer meeting organized by Pentecostal evangelists Jack W. Hayford and Robert Stearns through their organization “Eagles Wings”. They annually invite people around the world to pray for Jerusalem on the first Sunday of every October, close to the time of Yom Kippur. The first prayer meeting organized by this group occurred in 2004.

Hayford and Stearns organize the primary meeting in Israel. According to a CBN interview with Stearns, he believes that prayer meetings are important to combat various dangers to the Judeo-Christian worldview, such as secular humanism and Radical Islam, and he believes that Christians are especially obligated to support the State of Israel.

According to “Jerusalem Newswire” a small independent Christian publication, organizers of the 2006 event claimed that they had scheduled prayer meetings to be held in 150,000 churches around the world. The coordinators scheduled for prayer meetings to be organized in 169 nations.

In 2004, 500 global Christian ministries representing 50 countries and 53,000 churches said prayers for peace in Jerusalem on the same day. The organization’s goal in 2006 was to have over 100 million people in over 100 countries participate in prayer meetings. The prayer meeting in Jerusalem in 2006 was held inside the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem and was attended by “hundreds of Christian lovers of Israel gathered with Jewish friends.”

International denominations Assemblies of God, and Elim Fellowship took part in the 2006 prayer and support the annual prayers.

Canada Jewish Heritage Month

Jewish Heritage Month is commemorated through various events that acknowledge the many remarkable achievements and contributions made by members of the Jewish community. It also pays tribute to Canada’s rich Jewish culture, heritage and history. Since its unanimous passing in the Provincial Legislature on 23 February 2012 — and more recently in the House of Commons on 28 March 2018 — Jewish Heritage Month provides us with the unique opportunity to learn, share and celebrate the history and culture of Jewish Canadians.

Jewish Liberation from the Nazis

The 26th of Iyar is a new Jewish holiday, established in honor of the rescue of European Jewry from the threat of complete destruction in World War II.
May 9, 1945 fell on Iyar 26, 5705 according to the Hebrew calendar. That is why this date was chosen as the Day of Salvation and Liberation. On this day, commemorative events are held in synagogues around the world, prayers of thanks are offered to the Almighty, and conferences on the subject of World War II and the Holocaust are held. On 26 Iyar, Jews around the world are also sending words of gratitude to the war veterans who defeated Nazism and saved the Jews of Europe from complete destruction by the Nazis and their accomplices.

The purpose of the holiday is to preserve in generations the memory of the terrible events of World War II, of the heroism of the soldiers of the Red Army and the armies of the allied countries, and to prevent attempts to rewrite history.

Fast of Tevet 10

On Asarah B’Tevet, the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Asarah B’Tevet is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance.

Pesach Sheni

Pesach Sheni means “Second Passover [Sacrifice].” It marks the day when someone who was unable to participate in the Passover offering in the proper time would observe the mitzvah exactly one month later. It is customary to mark this day by eating matzah—shmurah matzah, if possible—and by omitting Tachanun from the prayer services. The day represents the “second chance” achieved by teshuvah, the power of repentance and “return.” In the words of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, “The Second Passover means that it’s never a ‘lost case.’”

Holocaust Survivor Day

On March 6, 2021, Michael Berenbaum and Jonathan Ornstein published the following op-ed in The Jerusalem Post calling for the creation of a “Holocaust Survivor Day.” In their words, “Holocaust survivors deserve a day of joy; a day of celebration. Not a day to share with condemnation of the Nazis, but a day to celebrate their lives they built in response to the Holocaust. Survivors represent the best in all of us, the best of the human spirit. They are our treasure and our light and we must shine that light into every dark corner of our world. We call on the world to join us and celebrate the inaugural Holocaust Survivor Day on June 26th.”

Why June 26?

June 26th is Auschwitz survivor Marian Turski’s birthday. This date was chosen to acknowledge the importance and impact of the noted historian, journalist, and the moral conscience of Poland’s Jewish community, and especially his powerful speech at last year’s ceremony commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Mr. Turski had this to say:

“Auschwitz did not fall from the sky. It began with small forms of persecution of Jews. It happened; it means it can happen anywhere. That is why human rights and democratic constitutions must be defended. The eleventh commandment is important: Don’t be indifferent. Do not be indifferent when you see historical lies, do not be indifferent when any minority is discriminated against, do not be indifferent when power violates a social contract.”

Join us as and celebrate the lives of the survivors from your own community and the living legacies left by those who are no longer with us.

International Agunah Day

What is an Agunah? Agunah, translated as “anchored/chained” in English, is a term used to describe a Jewish woman who is stuck in her religious marriage, because her husband refuses to grant her the needed divorce document, known as a get. According to Jewish law, a man must give his wife this in order to finalize a divorce.

Unfortunately, there are cases where a man refuses to grant this request, leaving the woman chained to her marriage. This has both short and long term consequences, including emotional trauma, the inability to enter a new religious marriage, and the inability to bear a religiously legitimate child.

Today, the refusal to grant a wife a get is considered emotional abuse and is a serious topic in religious circles. Many organizations have been established to support women who find themselves stuck in marriage and create Jewish prenuptial agreements to avoid any future get refusals.

About Agunah Day:

In 1990, Agunah Day was established by ICAR (International Coalition for Agunah Rights). The day was created to bring attention to the women who are suffering from being stuck in a marriage and place pressure on their husbands to grant a religious divorce. The day on the Jewish calendar chosen for Agunah Day is the 13th day of Adar, which coincides with the traditional Fast of Esther.

Why the Fast of Esther?

The Fast of Esther commemorates a period in ancient Persia when Jews fasted as a form of prayer for redemption from the threat of genocide. Esther, the wife of the Persian king, was forced to live in fear as she was Jewish. The following day, Purim, celebrates the salvation that did come on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Adar, when our oppressor, Haman, was killed.

The reason this day was chosen as Agunah Day is to raise awareness to the fact that there are many women living in fear, waiting for their eventual salvation.

Global Jewish Unity Day

In June of 2014, Jews from around the world united in solidarity of the families of Eyal Ifrah, Gil-ad Shaer and Naftali Fraeknel, three Israeli teens kidnapped and murdered by terrorists.

In their honor, the Jerusalem Unity Prize was created by Jerusalem Mayor, Nir Barkat. The award acknowledges the efforts of organizations and individuals in Israel and the Jewish world who actively work to advance unity throughout Jewish communities and Israeli society.

Since the creation of the prize 8 years ago, a Jewish Unity Day was added to the calendar. On May 25, over 500,000 students from 32 different countries will be participating in events celebrating Jewish Unity.

Students Abroad Celebrating Jewish Unity Day

You can participate by finding a Unity Day event in your area!

Event Tag: International

Nowruz Day: Persian New Year

The Origins of Nowruz Day

Celebrating Nowruz Day Traditions

Cultural Significance of Nowruz

Mizrahi Remembrance Month

Commemorative Events and Activities

Jerusalem Day of Prayer for All Nations

Canada Jewish Heritage Month

Jewish Liberation from the Nazis

Fast of Tevet 10

Pesach Sheni

Holocaust Survivor Day

International Agunah Day

Global Jewish Unity Day

Global Jewish Unity Day

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