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Mission Statement:
There are three pillars of Jewish Life:
The Torah, Israel and the Jewish Calendar.
Of these three, the Jewish Calendar is the one about which Jews agree most.
We all agree. There are twelve Jewish Months, sometimes thirteen.
The Jewish day starts and ends at sundown.
Passover begins the 15th of Nissan; Chanukah, the 25th of Kislev.
Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot are celebrated for one day in Israel. Agreed.
Since Hillel “fixed” the calendar over 2000 years ago, Jews have successfully maintained their own Calendar, regardless of country, or ‘climate’ - documenting a continuous cycle of Jewish life and observance that is unique to the Jew. In fact, nothing does more to unify the Jewish People more than our calendar. It is our past, our present and our future – our roadmap to a Jewish life of order and certainty…months, weeks, days... dates.
We know on what date a Jew is born and on what date a Jew passes – dates that stay with a person for generations beyond their years.
Yet, typically, and for reasons no one can be sure, contemporary Jewish calendars are formatted according to the rules of the secular/solar year. Our New Year, Rosh Hashanah, can be found somewhere in September, usually. The beginning of our week is not Sunday or Monday, but Saturday night. Our months proceed not September, October, November, but Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev. Jewish days span from sundown to sundown not midnight to midnight.
Perhaps, one hundred years ago, Jews were reluctant to print a document that publicized the fact that we have a separate calendar, fearful of accusations of being counter-cultural, or subversive. Thus the Jewish information was “secreted” into the secular format. Perhaps, years ago, we relied upon non-Jewish printers who only had monthly templates for January through December, and didn’t want to incur the expense of developing an entire new series of templates that changed every year. Perhaps it was just easier not to bother to make a separate Jewish calendar because Jews, back then, knew more than Jews today. They knew that three stars in the night sky signified the new Jewish day.
They heard the announcement of the new month. They knew.
But today, without fear, living in a world that values multicultural symbols; with access to printers and desktop publishing; and with no lack of creativity, energy, need or funding, Jewish Calendars continue to mislead a less educated, less unified, Jewish community with a visual representation of Jewish time that undermines the entire Jewish concept of time, identity and continuity.
It is no small thing. Because the Jewish Calendar is the big event of Jewish life. How can we expect our children to embrace, respect, and observe the Jewish Calendar when we teach them with one that don’t tell the whole truth! That doesn’t speak to them as a Jew, in the modern world – who needs to know when to go to the dentist and when Rosh Chodesh is.
The Calendar of the Jewish People is the first authentic Jewish Calendar – the only Jewish calendar to visually integrate the secular/solar day within the Jewish structure of time – Jewish months. Jewish weeks that start from Shabbat. Jewish days that stretch from sundown to sundown, with a secular midnight in between.
Our patented and patent-pending grids eliminate confusion about Jewish time, mistakes of observance - making the Jewish Calendar understandable and accessible to all.
This is our mission – to fix Jewish Calendars.
Our goal is to put the Jewish back into the Jewish Calendar – and thereby leverage Jewish ownership of this unique map of time for the benefit of Jewish unity and fulfillment of our common Jewish destiny.
This year’s edition, The Animated Calendar of the Jewish People is designed with all Jews in mind - all families, all ages, all denominations, and all levels of Jewish observance. It’s entertaining graphics, informative content, and strategic icon placement will move you through the Jewish year (while you still keep track of your dentist appointment, no problem).
By Jewish day, by week or by month, it contains something for everyone to experience, to learn, and to be a part of Jewish time.
We look forward to working with schools, rabbis, and organizations to promote The Calendar of the Jewish People. We welcome your input.
Jewish time is the essence... all the rest is commentary.
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The Shabbos Companion
by Rabbi/Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
20% OFF!
Looking for depth and meaning in the Shabbat experience? Rabbi Abraham Twerski shares with us, insightful stories, rich commentaries on customs, songs and prayers to help us welcome Shabbat into our homes.
More Info...
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Lulav & Esrog