What Jewish Holiday Is It? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rosh Hashanah

"Rosh Hashanah" is considered the Jewish New Year. It is also a day of judgement. It is said that God judges each person according to his deeds and makes a decision for the following year on whether good or bad will happen for that individual. It is also believed that God completed the building of the world on this day.

It is a day of prayer for most of the Jewish faith and the beginning of a ten day period called Days of Repentance.

Answer: Yom Kippur

The only day considered by some Jews to be as holy as Yom Kippur is the Sabbath which is given the status of a holiday under Jewish law. Yom Kippur is indeed the holiest day of the year for most Jews around the world. It is a day of complete devotion to prayer, so much so that things such as food and drink, bathing, use of cologne, sexual relations, and a number of other things are prohibited on this day.

It is said the reason for this is a person's full attention should be focused on prayer and atonement for sins before God. Fasting begins at sundown the night before and continues through the end of the holiday which concludes with the blowing of the Shofar (ram's horn) at the conclusion of the day of prayer.

Answer: Sukkot

Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths, is the correct holiday here. Jews around the world are entrusted to build small temporary houses with an open roof, to commemorate the types of dwellings the Israelites had to live in during their exodus from Egypt. During this seven-day holy period, this hut becomes a primary living quarter, with all meals being eaten there, and many will sleep there as well.

Answer: True

Simchat Torah is a celebration marking the end of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. On each occasion, all the worshipers leave their seats to dance and sing with all the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that often lasts for several hours and more.

The holiday is a happy one for all Jews with lots of dancing and music. Children are usually given flags, candies and treats such as ice cream.

Answer: Channukah

Hanukkah, or The Festival of Lights, marks a time in Jewish history when The Holy Temple was rededicated following a series of lootings during the Maccabean revolt in the 2nd century BCE, forcing Jewish worship to be stopped. The holiday is signified by the lighting of the special Menorah called a "Chanukkiyah" or Channukah Menorah, an eight branch candle holder with an additional candle called a "Shamash".

The candles signify the lighting of the temple Menorah during that time, with enough oil for one day, yet the candle miraculously burned for eight days. Special sweet foods and potato pancakes are traditional during this holiday along with gift giving and "Hanukkah Gelt" (small sums of money, usually coins) to children.

Answer: True

Tu B'Shvat is the celebration of the new year for trees. Customs include eating dried fruits and nuts, especially figs, dates, raisins, carob, and almonds. Traditionally, new trees are planted on this day. Many children collect funds leading up to this day to plant trees in Israel. Trees are usually planted locally as well.

Answer: Purim

Purim is a festival to commemorate the deliverance of the Jews from a plot to annihilate them in the ancient Persian Empire. The plot was hatched by Haman the Agigate. His plans were subsequently disrupted. He and King Ahasuerus planned the killings, but they were foiled by Queen Esther.

She had her cousin Moredecai replace Haman, and subsequently the Jews were allowed to turn the tables and kill their enemies. The holiday also involves the reading of the "Megillah" (The Book of Esther), giving food to family and friends and giving charity to the poor. Hamantashen, are three pointed pastries, usually filled with fruit, which are traditionally eaten on this holiday, along with a festive meal. Children are also encouraged to dress in funny outfits, depicting characters from the story.

Answer: Passover

Passover commemorates the release of the Israelite slaves from Egypt. No leavened food is eaten during the week of Passover, to signify the fact that the Jews left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have enough time to rise. This happened during the Ten Plagues of Egypt.

The tenth plague was the killing of the firstborn sons of Egypt. The story is told of how the Jews used ram's blood over their doorways, and the firstborn sons in those homes were spared by God. This holiday lasts for eight days, and during this time no items with yeast are allowed to be eaten. Jews will eat 'matzo' a flat cracker like food which will replace the bread they normally eat. Foods eaten during this time are supposed to be separate from the foods eaten during the rest of the year, and all cooking utensils and dishes are also supposed to be separate from the ones used during the remainder of the year.

Answer: True

Shavuot commemorates the day the entire Jewish nation was given the Torah, and Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The holiday is directly related to Passover. It falls exactly fifty days after Passover, since the Jews were freed from slavery on Passover, and were given the Torah and became a nation of their own, committed to God's service. Traditionally, dairy meals are eaten on this holiday and the Torah is studied all night.

Answer: True

True. Tisha B'Av, literally the ninth day of the month of Av on the Jewish calendar, commemorates the destruction in 586 BCE of the First Jewish Temple built by King Solomon, and also The Second Temple, in 70 CE, both allegedly to have taken place on the same date.

In addition, King Edward of England presented an edict commanding the Jews to leave England was presented on this date in the year 1290, and the date also commemorates the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. The day is observed in a similar fashion to Yom Kippur, in that a person must fast, and is prohibited from washing, bathing, having marital relations or wearing leather shoes. Additionally, mourning customs are applicable, such as sitting on low stools or boxes, not going to work, and not greeting other people.