At the JCC Indianapolis, we’re proud of our Jewish roots, and we seek to create a community space based on our universal Jewish values. Because of this, we look forward to celebrating Jewish holidays every year, and this spring, we have a few to look forward to! Read on to learn about our upcoming Jewish holidays and what you can expect from the JCC Indianapolis on these days.

Passover

The holiday of Passover honors the Israelites’ liberation from Egypt and stands for universal freedom. Beginning on the night of a full moon in the spring, Passover is observed for seven or eight days. On the first or second night of the holiday, almost all American Jews mark Passover by taking part in a ritual dinner called Sedar. In remembrance of the fact that their forefathers left Egypt quickly and didn’t have time to wait for their bread to rise, the majority of American Jews abstain from bread and grain products throughout this holiday. Jews who observe Passover to the letter don’t go to work, school, or conduct any business on the first and last two days of the holiday.

Yom HaAtzma’ut (Israeli Independence Day)

Yom HaAtzma’ut marks the occasion when David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel within the territory that the UN had allotted for a Jewish state in Palestine on the day the British Palestinian mandate ended.

Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day)

Yom HaZikaron is a day set aside to remember Israeli soldiers who lost their lives protecting Israel during one of its many wars.

Earth Day

The annual celebration of Earth Day recognizes the accomplishments of the environmental movement and promotes the importance of preserving the planet’s natural resources for coming generations. In the United States, Earth Day is observed on April 22. Though not a strictly Jewish holiday, Earth Day strongly reflects Jewish values by highlighting each person’s duty to protect the planet for all living things. It serves as a reminder that we need to step up our efforts to protect the environment since it is up to us to do it.

Join us this spring as we celebrate Jewish holidays at the JCC Indianapolis. For more information about the holidays we celebrate, our holiday hours, or other programs and events, visit our website or contact us today at (317) 251-9467.