Jewish Holidays &

Below is an explanation of each Jewish holiday along with the traditional foods that are served in a Jewish household.

Holiday & Explanation	Traditional Foods Served
*Purim* – Celebrates the event described in the Book of Esther in the Bible when the Jews were saved from massacre in Persia. It is a happy occasion and is celebrated with parties and feasting.	Noodle dishes, candy, cookies, wine, soup, duck, chicken and turkey. All Bessin products are popular for this holiday, especially franks, Mini Bagel Dogs and pickles.
*Passover* – Commemorates the exodus from Egypt. It is a solemn and joyous time. Special food requirements prevail during this eight day period, and many foods must bear the words, "Kosher for Passover" to be acceptable for Passover.	Hard boiled eggs, Matzoh, wine, soups, gefilte fish and chopped liver; popular meats are: standing rib roasts, briskets, rib eyes, and heavy fowl. Most Bessin products are available and popular during Passover, especially franks, salami, kishke and briskets.
*Shavuot* – Signifies the harvest of the winter wheat and celebrates the granting to the Israelites of the Five Books of Moses (Torah) and is a Happy two-day event.	Dairy products are in great demand.
*Rosh Hashonah* – Marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. The evening proceeding the first day and the Following evening are the festive days for Families; large meals are commonly served. The Shofar (a trumpet made from a ram’s horn) is blown in the synagogue to celebrate God’s rule over the world, the good deeds of our ancestors and to represent Revelation and Redemption.	Foods for this occasion include: round challot, a head of a fish, a sweet corn dish, apples, honey, breads, salad, desserts, chopped liver, standing rib roasts, briskets, rib eyes, turkey and chicken. Bessin kishke, franks, salami and briskets are also popular for Rosh Hashonah.
*Yom Kippur* - (Day of Atonement) The most sacred holiday of the year, a day of fasting, reflection and prayer. It is ushered in by a Bountiful feast held just before sunset on the following day. After sunset on Yom Kippur day, another feast occurs.	The pre-fast meal includes round challot dipped in honey. It is also traditional to serve meat or poultry, breads, salads and desserts. Bessin items include kishke, franks, salami and briskets.
*Succoth and Shemini Atzeret* - A celebration of the fall harvest and the commemoration of the days when people wandered in the wilderness living in temporary housing.	Soup, turkey, cold fresh salad, wine and dessert. Additional Bessin products include franks, salami, briskets and bagel dogs.
*Simcath Torah* – A festive day that celebrates the completion of the reading of the Holy Scriptures and the start of the re-reading.	Roasts, poultry, fruits, cakes, candies as well as Bessin sliced meats, kishke, franks and salami are popular.
*Chanukah* – The Festival of Lights is an eight day celebration of the victory of the few (the Hasmonean Maccabees) against the many (the Greek Oppressors) who drove their enemies from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This is a gift giving time with many parties.	Noodle dishes, potato pancakes, turkey, candy, wine, and all Bessin products, especially franks, mini-bagel dogs, cocktail franks and salami are popular.