Passover, of course. But what about those other holidays?

By Nurit Galon Special to Hakol

All the holidays have their own special character and meaning and truly do portray the history of the Jewish people. At this time of year, it’s Passover, and others right behind it, including “the Yoms.”

We usually learn about Passover from when we’re very small. We know it’s a gathering of family and friends, with special foods, even games, including the search for the hidden matzo. But how much do we know about the other days that make up the Jewish calendar, each very special?

The Omer, April 6-May 25

In Israel, which was predominantly an agricultural community and in some areas still is, the Omer is a period of 50 days leading up to Shavuot and the reception of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, but to the farmers it is a time of harvesting, of bringing in the wheat, and nothing must disturb the flow of work. Weddings and other ceremonies are permitted only on Lag Ba’Omer (the 33rd day of counting the Omer), when the children are busy collecting wood for the traditional bonfires.

Shavuot, May 25-27

This is really an agricultural celebration. A stage is set up in the fields, offerings (including all the babies born that year!) are brought to the main stage, and big tractors perform a rondo, to the delight of all the children. There are dancing, homemade cakes and food, kite competitions and a report from the head of the field crops (hopefully announcing profits!). Eventually everyone goes home tired but happy. This is indeed an agricultural community celebrating a good year in harmony with nature.

Yom Hashoah, April 18

The Holocaust continues to shock and frighten us. Every year as we hear the horrific stories of Holocaust survivors on Holocaust Remembrance Day and try to understand the apathy of the countries that could have made the difference between life and death, we cannot help but ask, “Could it happen again?” And what can we do, each one of us, to make sure it doesn't? Are we teaching our coming generations to be on the watch? Is the world a safer place today?

Yom Hazikaron, April 25

Two days a year at ex- actly 11 a.m., the sound of a siren sweeps over all of Israel and everything stops. Drivers leave their cars. People are still. In addition to the many ceremonies commemorating Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron (Israel Memorial Day), the siren effectively reminds the whole country of the price we have paid and continue to pay for our tiny country.

Yom Ha’atzmaut, April 26

When I was in the army here, a year after I made aliyah (immigration to Israel) in 1962, my army group marched in the Israel Independence Day parade in Tel Aviv. I will never forget the thousands of Holocaust survivors who lined the streets with flags in their hands and tears streaming down their faces. All the soldiers, tank crews, pilots cried too. At last, a free people in their own land!

If we accept that a people that forgets, or will not learn from, its past may not prepare well for its future, then we may be happy that our holidays will continue to remind us of our history and traditions and what we must do to ensure our continued survival.

To all our friends and family in the Lehigh Valley Jewish community, our partners in Partnership2Gether, we send you greetings for Pesach and wish you all good health and a happy and joyful year.