https://www.youtube.com/embed/5PRIwxysVyo In Judaism, Passover is one of the most important holidays of the year. It celebrates the release of the Jews from Egypt as described in the biblical book of Exodus, and commemorates the events leading up to it.  Maybe you’ve heard of Passover before, but never really understood what it’s about or how it’s celebrated. If so, this article will be your golden ticket to understanding the basics and getting better acquainted with Jewish culture and traditions.  Let’s get started! 1. What is Passover? Passover is a Jewish holiday celebrated for seven days during אביב (aviv), or spring. The celebration of this holiday is commanded and outlined in the biblical books of... Show more

With roughly three-quarters of its population claiming the Jewish religion, Israel is a country whose history and culture largely revolve around Judaism. With this in view, there may be no better place to celebrate the biggest Jewish holidays! The Feast of Weeks, or שבועות (Shavuot) in Hebrew, is one of three extremely important Jewish holidays. In this article, you’ll learn about this holiday’s origins, how Jews celebrate it today, and more interesting facts. Let’s get started. 1. What is the Feast of Weeks? The Feast of Weeks, also known as Shavuot, is a major Jewish holiday that holds special status as a עליה לרגל (aliya la-regel), or "pilgrimage," day. There are only two other Jewish holidays that are considered... Show more

Each year, Jews celebrate the Festival of Lights, better known as Hanukkah. One of the most significant Jewish holidays, Hanukkah commemorates key turning points in Jewish history. In this article, you’ll learn about the Hanukkah story, the most popular Hanukkah traditions, and more interesting facts about the Jewish Festival of Lights. Are you ready? Let’s get started! 1. What is Hanukkah? The Hanukkah holiday contains eight days of "thanking." These days were amended by the Israeli sages during the Second Temple period as a memory of the following: Victory in the Hasmonean Rebellion The reinitiation of the temple The miracle of the oil can 1- History of Hanukkah In the year 167 B.C., the... Show more

Each year, Jews observe Yom Kippur—a holiday dedicated to sincere repentance and forgiveness, and sometimes referred to as the Day of Atonement. On this holy day, not only do Jews ask God for forgiveness, but they forgive the sins and hurts that others have done to them, and ask forgiveness from them as well. This is a solemn day, but one of joy in the abundance of forgiveness, and of peace. The most basic Yom Kippur meaning is that of repentance and atonement. In this article, you’ll learn all about the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, including the most common traditions involving repentance and reflection. Learning about a Jewish observance as important as Yom Kippur is vital if you want to really see the culture and religion of Israel... Show more

Lag BaOmer, the 33rd Day of the Omer, is one of the significant holidays on the calendar to Jews. From its association with Rabbi Akiva and the Bar Kochba revolt, the Lag BaOmer story is truly a staple of Jewish culture. And as any language learner knows, understanding a country’s culture is the most important factor in mastering its language! At HebrewPod101.com, we hope to make your learning experience both fun and informative! 1. What is the Lag BaOmer Holiday? Israelites celebrate Lag Ba’omer to commemorate some events that occurred during the second century of the common era: the Bar Kochva revolt against the Romans, the end of the plague that killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students, and the death of Rabbi Shimon Bar... Show more

Purim is a Jewish holiday, celebrated each year in commemoration of the overthrowing of Haman’s plot against the Jews, outlined in the Scroll of Esther. Purim in Israel is, therefore, one of the most important holidays the country celebrates. In learning about Purim, you’re opening your heart and mind to Jewish culture and its people—including its previous and current hardships. At HebrewPod101.com, we hope to make this journey both fun and enlightening. So let’s get started! 1. What is Purim? Purim (also called the Feast of Purim) is based on a story written in the Scroll of Esther. According to the Purim story, Ahasueros, the king of Persia, banished his wife and chose Esther, the Jewess, to take her place. Haman, the... Show more

Tu BiShvat (meaning Jewish New Year for Trees) is a Jewish holiday dedicated to preserving the environment, keeping the beautiful world that God created in good condition. It should come as no surprise that the Jewish people care so much about environmental health, considering the command it’s believed God gave to Adam, the first man: not to ruin the world’s beauty. Learn more fascinating Tu BiShvat facts with HebrewPod101.com, from its origins to important vocabulary you should know! 1. Why Should You Know About Tu BiShvat? Learning the most popular holidays of any country reveals a lot about that country’s culture, and cultural knowledge is just as important as vocabulary knowledge. Understanding Tu BiShvat will provide you... Show more

Learn all the Hebrew New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join HebrewPod101 for a special Hebrew New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. As a note, in Israel, and in Jewish... Show more

Do you know any ways to wish someone a ‘Merry Christmas’ in Hebrew? HebrewPod101 brings you easy-to-learn translations and the correct pronunciation of Hebrew Christmas phrases! Christmas is the annual commemorative festival of Christ’s birth in the Western Christian Church. It takes place on December 25th and is usually celebrated with much food and fanfare! However, not all cultures celebrate Christmas. In some countries, Christmas is not even a public holiday! However, many countries have adapted Christmas and its religious meaning to tally with their own beliefs, or simply in acknowledgment of the festival’s importance to other cultures. If you want to impress native Hebrew speakers with culturally-appropriate Christmas phrases... Show more