Tishah Ba'Av, the Ninth of Av, is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. Jews around the world gather together and mourn their state of spiritual exile, the Holy Temple, destroyed, not once, but twice, and the diaspora that has been the home of tragedy

YOM HA'ZIKARON, or Israel Memorial Day, is also known as YOM HA'ATZMAUT, or Israel Independence Day.

As the State of Israel marks its 60th birthday on the 5th of Iyar, the world holds its breath – waiting and wondering if peace will ever come to the Middle East.  Israel's independence, as well as its continued survival, is a modern day miracle, but it has come with a great cost in human lives. Therefore, before it celebrates its independence, Israel honors the memory of those who gave life and limb for their country. On the 4th of Iyar, Yom Ha'Zikaron, Memorial Day is observed. It is not a day of picnics, fairs and fireworks. To honor the fallen soldiers of the State, an alarm is sounded simultaneously throughout the country for one minute, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. As the siren pierces the air, all traffic comes to a halt as everyone stands for a moment of silence.

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The first month of the Jewish year (Tishrei) is also the busiest month of the Jewish year. Immediately following Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the week-long holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles. Called in the liturgy Zman Simchatainu, the time of our rejoicing,

Now that the Jewish people have repented on Yom Kippur and, hopefully, received Divine forgiveness, Sukkot follows as the time for celebrating G-d's presence in the world. By living in temporary dwellings and taking the four species (the two primary mitzvot of Sukkot) Jews acknowledge that G-d provides for our physical needs as well as our spiritual needs.

During the week of Sukkot, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, 70 oxen were sacrificed. The rabbis taught that these 70 oxen represent the original 70 nations of the world. The priests offered sin offerings for the nations, invoking a desire for universal atonement, peace and harmony. Sukkot, therefore, is actually a truly universal holiday. The holiday, however, does not end abruptly since G-d commanded that an eighth day be added which will also be Yom Tov, a festival day, specifically for the Jewish people. This holiday, known as Sh'mini Atzeret, the Gathering of the Eighth, is seen as the holiday which demonstrates G-d's especial love for the Jewish people - comparable to a host asking his/her best friend to stay after everyone else has left, in order to share a private moment.

The first month of the Jewish year (Tishrei) is also the busiest month of the Jewish year. Immediately following Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the week-long holiday of Sukkot, also known as the Feast of the Tabernacles. Called in the liturgy Zman Simchatainu, the time of our rejoicing,

Now that the Jewish people have repented on Yom Kippur and, hopefully, received Divine forgiveness, Sukkot follows as the time for celebrating G-d's presence in the world. By living in temporary dwellings and taking the four species (the two primary mitzvot of Sukkot) Jews acknowledge that G-d provides for our physical needs as well as our spiritual needs.

During the week of Sukkot, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, 70 oxen were sacrificed. The rabbis taught that these 70 oxen represent the original 70 nations of the world. The priests offered sin offerings for the nations, invoking a desire for universal atonement, peace and harmony. Sukkot, therefore, is actually a truly universal holiday. The holiday, however, does not end abruptly since G-d commanded that an eighth day be added which will also be Yom Tov, a festival day, specifically for the Jewish people. This holiday, known as Sh'mini Atzeret, the Gathering of the Eighth, is seen as the holiday which demonstrates G-d's especial love for the Jewish people - comparable to a host asking his/her best friend to stay after everyone else has left, in order to share a private moment.