[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#00438e” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||true|true” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Seder-plate.jpg” background_position=”bottom_center” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”021abc68-af49-42dc-8405-9362326354d6″ header_text_color=”#00438e” custom_margin=”3vw||1vw||false|false” custom_padding=”|||3vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||6vw|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Holidays

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”021abc68-af49-42dc-8405-9362326354d6″ text_font_size=”17px” text_line_height=”1.6em” link_font=”||on||on||||” header_text_color=”#00438e” custom_margin=”||3vw||false|false” custom_padding=”|10vw||3vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||5vw|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||6vw|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Holidays represent peak points in the calendar.  They resonate with memory and promise, moments when the personal and the communal come together.

From the sound of the shofar blast (the ram’s horn) on Rosh Hashanah to moments of silence on Yom Ha’Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), from fasting on Yom Kippur to the feasts of other festivals (potato pancakes Chanukah, pastry and Purim, cheesecake on Shavuot), Jewish holiday celebrations and observances are the milestones of our Jewish lives.  The rituals remind us of our history, of continuity and change, persecution and perseverance.  They echo with the sounds of joy and sorrow, family gatherings past and present, with hints of all our hopes for the future.

Below are the holidays we celebrate here at the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas.  Click the calendar button to view the dates and schedules of upcoming Jewish holidays or click HERE to view this year’s dates for High Holy Days.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE3NzEifX0=@” button_text=”CALENDAR” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#2a688e” button_bg_color=”#ffffff” button_border_color=”#959fa5″ button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”|||on|||||” position_origin_a=”center_center” position_origin_r=”bottom_left” custom_margin=”||3vw|3vw|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”6vw||6vw|5vw|true|false” custom_margin_phone=”6vw||6vw||true|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”|||3vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||8vw|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||10vw|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_main_element=”width:250px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.23)” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_bg_color__hover=”#7fcdd6″ button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”jewish holidays” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”90%” custom_margin=”|auto||auto|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”a6ee8697-9a97-4aa9-bc2e-0feb075d16b0″ header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_font_size=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Jewish Holidays

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”|5vw||5vw|false|true” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#156fb5″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|0vw||0vw|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Sukkot.jpg” alt=”Purim text over image of pastries and a face mask” title_text=”Sukkot” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Each year, the members of Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas join together on the deck of Lilienfeld House to celebrate Sukkot. Sukkot, a Hebrew word meaning “booths” refers to the Jewish festival of the fall harvest. The “booths” remind us of our ancestors’ journey through the wilderness, told in our Torah. Sukkot is celebrated five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishrei. We are commanded to “dwell in booths;” thus, we build a sukkah, and spend evenings eating and even sleeping under the stars!

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Chanukah.jpg” alt=”Chanukah text over a lit menorah” title_text=”Chanukah” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Chanukah, meaning “dedication”, refers to the joyous eight-day celebration during which Jews commemorate the victory of the Macabees over the armies of Syria in 165 B.C.E. and the subsequent liberation and “re-dedication” of the Temple in Jerusalem. The modern home celebration of Chanukah centers around the lighting of the Chanukah, a special menorah for Chanukah; unique foods fried in oil, like latkes and jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot); and special songs and games.

 

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|0vw||0vw|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Simchat-Torah.jpg” alt=”simchat torah text over image of scroll in front of arc” title_text=”Simchat-Torah” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for “rejoicing in the Law,” celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life and demonstrate a living example of never-ending, lifelong study.

Here at Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas, Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried around the synagogue, in a “hakafa” seven times. It is on this holiday that we read the last parsha of the Torah in Deuteronomy, and then the first parsha of the Torah in Genesis 

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Purim.jpg” alt=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Siddur-Am-Yisrael-for-Erev-Shabbat.pdf” title_text=”Purim” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Purim is celebrated by the reading of the Scroll of Esther, known in Hebrew as the Megillat Esther. Purim celebrates the unsuccessful attempt by Haman, King Ahashuerus’ viceroy, to exterminate all of the Jews in the land. Queen Esther, and her cousin Mordechai, foil his plot and save the Jews. A Purim Schpiel, a humorous re-enactment of the story, typically follows the reading of the megillah.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Passover.jpg” alt=”passover text over a stack of matzah next to a kiddish cup” title_text=”Passover” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Pesach, known as Passover in English, is a major Jewish spring festival, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt over 3,000 years ago.

The ritual observance of this holiday centers around a special home service called the seder (meaning “order”) and a festive meal; the prohibition of chametz (leaven); and the eating of matzah (an unleavened bread). On the eve of the fifteenth day of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar, we read from a book called the hagaddah, meaning “telling,” which contains the order of prayers, rituals, readings and songs for the Pesach seder. The Pesach seder is the only ritual meal in the Jewish calendar year for which such an order is prescribed, hence its name.

 The seder has a number of scriptural bases. Exodus 12:3-11 describes the meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, which the Israelites ate just prior to the Exodus. In addition, three separate passages in Exodus (12:26-7, 13:8, 13:14) and one in Deuteronomy (6:20-21) enunciate the duty of the parents to tell the story of the Exodus to their children. The seder plate contains various symbolic foods referred to in the seder itself. 

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Read more here about how our people ended up in Egypt…” open_toggle_text_color=”#156fb5″ closed_toggle_background_color=”rgba(247,244,217,0.6)” icon_color=”#156fb5″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”21px” open_icon_color=”#156fb5″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”21px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#156fb5″ title_level=”h3″ title_font=”Montserrat||||||||” title_font_size=”18px” title_line_height=”1.4em” body_line_height=”1.6em” border_color_all=”#156fb5″ global_colors_info=”{}”]

The story of Joseph gives us the background for how our people ended up in Egypt. It begins with our patriarch Jacob and his 12 sons. One of the sons, Joseph, was the most favored by his father, which caused tension between Joseph and his brothers, who sold him into slavery. The brothers told Jacob that a wild animal had killed Joseph. In truth, Joseph ended up in Egypt where he had many adventures, one of which landed him in jail. Through his ability to interpret dreams, Joseph became an advisor to Pharaoh, managing the country’s food supply so that the people would be fed during the predicted seven years of famine. The famine extended into the land of Canaan where Jacob and his family lived. Joseph’s brothers went down to Egypt in search of food and came before Joseph, but they did not recognize him. Eventually Joseph identified himself to his brothers and invited them and the entire household of Jacob to come down to Egypt so they would survive the famine.

Many generations later, a new Pharaoh arose “who knew not Joseph.” This Pharaoh enslaved the Hebrews and ordered all of their newborn baby boys killed. A newborn, Moses, was saved by the ingenuity of his mother and sister when he was set adrift in a basket in the Nile. As his sister Miriam watched, she saw that Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the baby and decided to raise the Hebrew child as her own. Miriam offered to arrange for a Hebrew nurse (Moses’ mother) to feed and care for the child.

Moses grew up, and one day he witnessed an Egyptian overseer beating a Hebrew slave. So angered by this sight, Moses killed the overseer. Subsequently, he saw two Hebrew slaves arguing and tried to stop them. They turned to him, and one said, “Will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian overseer?” Realizing that there was a witness to the murder and becoming concerned for his life, Moses escaped into the desert. On that journey, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed, and told him to go back to Egypt and deliver the Hebrews from slavery.

With his brother Aaron, Moses went before Pharaoh to demand that the Hebrews be set free. Pharaoh continually refused, and the plagues descended upon Egypt. With the 10th plague, the killing of the firstborn, Pharaoh relented and allowed the Hebrews to leave. In their haste, the Israelites took unleavened dough that baked on their backs into matzah.

The Passover Seder reminds us of our ancestor’s journey down into Egypt, our enslavement there and our eventual flight to freedom. In Jewish tradition, because of the centrality of this story, we are not simply to remember these events but to recount them as if we ourselves had experienced them.

[/et_pb_toggle][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.7″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https://synagogue.vi/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/church-01.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” width=”100%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”4vw||0px||false|false” scroll_vertical_motion_enable=”on” scroll_vertical_motion=”0|50|50|100|0|0|0″ motion_trigger_start=”top” global_module=”6744″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” width=”55%” width_tablet=”75%” width_phone=”85%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”||0vw||false|false” custom_padding=”||3vw||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”||6vw||false|false” scroll_fade_enable=”on” scroll_fade=”0|50|100|100|0|100|100″ motion_trigger_start=”top” border_radii=”off|10px|10px||” border_radii_tablet=”” border_radii_phone=”off|0px|10px||” border_radii_last_edited=”on|phone” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Abril Fatface||||||||” text_text_color=”#156fb5″ text_font_size=”31px” text_letter_spacing=”3px” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 34%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 97%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_start_position=”34%” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” background_color_gradient_end_position=”97%” z_index=”500″ text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”-2vw||0vw||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-5vw||0vw||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-7vw||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”5vw||2vw||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”28px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” text_line_height=”1.6em” width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Over 3000 families, from all of the world, maintain a connection with this  historic Caribbean outpost of Judaism by becoming “Chai” members of our Congregation.  “Chai” means “life,” and this support is, in many ways, our lifeline, and life blood. Be a part of this spiritual community, become a member today! 

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjY2OTYifX0=@” button_text=”BECOME A MEMBER” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#2a688e” button_bg_color=”#ffffff” button_border_color=”#959fa5″ button_letter_spacing=”1px” button_font=”|||on|||||” custom_css_main_element=”width:300px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.23)” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_bg_color__hover=”#7fcdd6″ button_bg_enable_color__hover=”on” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” button_text_color__hover=”#ffffff”][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]