Israeli Time and Holiday Traditions
May 02 '01 (Updated Feb 12 '03)
The Bottom Line Israel celebrates most of its holidays on a lunar calendar, not a solar one. And they do other things differently, too.
While walking down by Dizengoff Center the other day I encountered a British couple that was very shook up. They had arrived the day before Israel's Memorial Day (Yom Ha Zikaron). Twice during this day, sirens are sounded. No one had told them this and they thought that the country was under attack!
By the time I met them, they knew what had happened. Still, it pays to understand some of the customs of a country you're going to be visiting. Israel, being Jewish, operates on Jewish time and celebrates Jewish holidays. Here is some feedback on how time and holidays work in Israel.
Time:
Holidays in Israel run on Jewish time. They begin at sunset one night and end at sunset the next day. The reason for this is Biblical. You see, in Genesis it says, "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day." In Jewish time, the day begins with the onset of night (the appearance of the stars) followed by the morning (which technically begins with the appearance of the North Star). While for business purposes, the day runs the same way days run in the rest of the world for Shabbat (Friday sunset til Saturday sunset) and other holidays, things operate on Jewish time.
While we're on the topic of time, Israel has a 5 1/2 or 6 day work week. Work begins on Sunday and runs through Friday. Most businesses close by about 2 p.m. on Friday during the winter (shorter days) and 4 p.m. on Friday in the summer. No buses run on Shabbat (the Sabbath) although they will begin running afterwards. Taxis do run, but they are more expensive.
I'm not going to go into all the holiday traditions. There are plenty of places to learn about what Jews do or what Arabs (be they Christian or Muslim) do. However, there are some things about holidays that are unique to Israel (at least so far as I know.) So here are my holiday tips for things you might want to know, even if you're Jewish!:
Yom Kippur (day of Atonement): Local television is off the air. You'll only be able to get cable. Nobody drives, except emergency vehicles. For non-religious Jews, this is the day that their children want new bicycles. Lots of people out bicycle riding. Immediately after Yom Kippur, listen for the sound of hammers as people begin making their Sukkot (booths) for the holiday of Sukkot.
Sukkot (Festival of booths): Celebrates the wanderings of children of Israel in the wilderness. A week off from school. Lots of people do build Sukkot. Lots of camping and tiyul (hikes). Last taste of summer. Lots of folks at the beach!
Hannukah (Rededication, Festival of Lights): Yes, they eat latkes here, but they also eat sufganiyot (jelly donuts) for this holiday.
Purim (Festival of Lots): The most widespread food on Purim is a special pastry, popularly known as hamantashen. Ask anyone in Israel about something by that name and they will look at you funny. In Israel, these are called ozen-haman, Haman's ears.
Jerusalem celebrates Purim a day later than the rest of the world. The Book of Esther tells us "Therefore the Jews of the villages, who dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month of Adar a day of gladness and feasting." The residents of walled towns celebrate what is known as Shushan Purim. It is observed on the 15th day of Adar. On this day the Jews of Shushan, the city in which King Ahashverus dwelt, celebrated their victory. In cities such as Jerusalem, which have a wall, or that were fortified in the past, the Megilla (book of Esther) is read on the 15th day of Adar. If you're a Purim fanatic, you can celebrate it for an extra day by hopping down to Jerusalem.
Passover: Only one seder (traditional meal) in Israel, as opposed to two for Diaspora Jews. Most places will become Kosher for Passover, but you really have to think about what that means to you. The heksher (Kosher seal of approval) may indicate that for you it is not Kosher for Passover. (Ashkenazi Jews have different traditions from Sephardic Jews.)
Memuna: Day after Passover the Moroccan Jews celebrate Maimonodes (a great rabbi) with a special feast called a Memuna. Much of Israel has picked up on this tradition. The food is very sweet and delicious!
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Rememberance Day): People where dark blue or black pants or skirts, and white shirts. At 10 a.m. there is a siren and everyone stands silent at attention. It is not a matter of the place being bombed. It is a moment of national unity.
Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day): Two sirens, one at 8 p.m. the night of this day of rememberance, the other at 11 a.m. the next morning. Israeli drivers will pull over to the side of the road and stand beside their cars...these are people who often won't get out of the way for ambulances! Even on the highway, everything stops. Very moving, but again, not a bomb warning. Don't run for the shelters.
Yom Ha'atz Ma'ut (Israeli Independence Day): As sunset falls and Yom HaZikaron ends, Yom Ha'atz Ma'ut begins. If you are in a public place when this happens you will note that all heck breaks loose. You may be sprayed with shaving cream (lots of shaving cream fights!) The next day is the big picnic and barbecue day. It's fun to go to the park...providing you can find a place to park.
This is certainly not everything about Jewish time and Israeli culture, but it should get you started.
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While everything Israeli is not Jewish and everything Jewish is not Israeli, the following links may be of interest. They pertain to Jewish life cycles, holidays and traditions.
Why Jews Circumcise
Keeping it Kosher – The Basics
Ascending Jacob’s Ladder: The Jewish View of Angels, Demons and Evil Spirits
Every Person’s Guide to Death and Dying in the Jewish Tradition
A Jew’s Lament at the Christmas Season
Much Ado About Noshing – A Guide to Jewish Cuisine
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