Jewish Holidays

There is a mitzva to establish a holiday of rejoicing and praising God on a day when the Jewish people were saved. It was on this basis that the Sages established Purim and Ĥanuka as permanent holidays.

The verse states: “I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by gazelles or by hinds of the field: Do not wake or rouse love until it please!” ). The Sages explain that God administered three oaths: two to Israel – not to ascend to their land forcefully all together and not to rebel against the nations – and one to the gentiles – not to subjugate the Jews excessively.

On Yom Ha-atzma’ut (Israel’s Independence Day), the Jewish people were delivered from bondage to freedom, from subjugation by foreign powers, with all it entails, to political independence.

After so many years passed without God’s word coming to fruition, God’s name became increasingly desecrated in the world, and the enemies of Israel decided that there is no chance that the Jews would ever return to their land

When the State of Israel was established, on the fifth of Iyar in 5708 (1948), the Jewish people fulfilled the mitzva of settling Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel).

There are different Halachos on the Joyous Days within the Omer Period.

During the omer period, one may buy a new fruit, garment, or piece of furniture and recite the berakha of She-heheyanu over it.

Many poskim maintain that there is no difference between listening to live music and listening to music on the radio or any other electronic device.

One may hold a se’udat mitzva and sing and dance at such a meal, just as one does throughout the year.

Since it is customary not to celebrate too much during the omer period, the Aĥaronim write that one may not engage in optional dancing. They also forbid playing or listening to musical instruments.