The Jewish faith has been in existence for over 5,700 years. There are many traditions Jewish people have passed down through the generations and these traditions are observed every year.

Almost all of the holiday gatherings involve meals and prayer. Sometimes the oldest person says the blessings and sometimes it is the youngest, it all depends on which holiday the family is observing. Some of the foods that are commonly served are challah and matzo ball soup.

Challah is an egg based braided bread, sometimes served with honey. Matzo ball soup is chicken based and has large round noodles. Many Jewish families have a grandmother or great grandmother who is known for making excellent matzo ball soup.

Passover is observed in early spring. It's a holiday of freedom. It's a celebration by the Jewish people. We celebrate being liberated from slavery by Pharaoh in Egypt over 3,000 years ago. Jewish families enjoy having meals together and reading passages of the Exodus from the Siddur.

The ritual includes blessings, pouring of the wine, and questions about the meaning of the event. The meal includes unleavened bread and bitter herbs, the bread symbolizing the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt and the herbs symbolize the bitterness of slavery.

Hanukkah is the most known holiday of the Jewish faith. About 3,500 years ago the Jews regained their temple back from the Syrians. When the Jews regained their temple, they placed a Menorah, (a nine branched candelabrum) with only one day worth of oil. Surprisingly, the oil lasted for eight days.

That miracle proved that G-d had taken his people under his protection. In memory of this our ancestors appointed these eight days, for the annual Thanksgiving and candle lighting. With my family, during this time we light one candle every night, say blessings and open presents.

These are a few of the rituals practiced by the Jewish faith. Some of the other holidays are Yom Kippur, (time to repent) and Rosh Hashanah(the Jewish New Year).

In the Jewish religion you also have milestones to reach as you get older. For example, when a child turns thirteen he or she has a Bar or Bat Mitzvah (becoming a man or a woman). A few years after the Bar or Bat Mitzvah he or she decides if they want to be confirmed (reconfirming our faith).

I feel every time families celebrate these traditions it renews their faith. In addition, to religious classes twice a week during the school year many families also attend services. I feel this reaffirms that one day they will pass these traditions on to their own family.

Debs DeAngelis

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