Tisha B'Av
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 / 9 Av
Day of fasting and mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, both of which took place on the ninth of Av. The Book of Lamentations is read, and some conduct services sitting on the floor.
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Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, September 9, 2010 - Friday, September 10, 2010 / 1-2 Tishrei Festive celebration during which individuals contemplate past, present, and future actions. Traditional foods include round challah and apples with honey, symbolizing wholeness and sweetness for the new year. Commences the Ten Days of Awe, which culminate on Yom Kippur.
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Yom Kippur
Saturday, September 18, 2010 / 10 Tishrei
One of the holiest days of the Jewish year. Through fasting and prayer, Jews reflect upon their relationships with other people and with God, atoning for wrongdoings and failures to take right action. Ends at sunset with a blast of the shofar (ram's horn).
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Sukkot
Thursday, September 23, 2010 - Wednesday, September 29, 2010 / 15-21 Tishrei
Seven-day holiday commemorating the fulfillment of God's promise to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land after forty years of wandering. Many people build a sukkah (booth), a temporary structure with a roof made of branches, modeled after the huts constructed in the desert. Also celebrated with the shaking of the lulav (assemblage of palm, willow and myrtle branches) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit).
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Shemini Atzeret
Thursday, September 30, 2010 / 22 Tishrei Celebrated the day after Sukkot and thus sometimes considered an extension of that holiday. Marks the first time tefillat geshem (prayer for rain) is recited during services, a practice that continues until Pesach.
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Simchat Torah
Friday, October 1, 2010 / 23 Tishrei
Celebrates the completion of the annual Torah-reading cycle. After finishing the last sentence of the chapter Devarim (Deuteronomy), the Torah is joyously paraded seven times around the synagogue. The new cycle begins immediately with a reading from Bereshit (Genesis).
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Chanukah
Thursday, December 2, 2010 - Thursday, December 9, 2010 / 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet
Eight-day holiday commemorating the Jewish victory over the Syrians and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple, when oil meant to last for one day burned for eight. Celebrated by lighting candles in a chanukiah (a nine-branched candelabrum), eating latkes (potato pancakes), playing with dreidels (spinning tops) and giving money or gifts.
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