Canada is home to newcomers of diverse backgrounds & religions. Irrespective of their immigrant status, Canadians are guaranteed freedom of thought, expression, & belief. Between 1980 – 2021, more than 91,000 Canadian inhabitants who identified as Jewish were newcomers. They came from countries like Israel, the United States, Russia, Ukraine, Morocco, etc. More than 98% of Canadian Jews reside in five Canadian provinces, i.e., Quebec, Alberta, BC, Ontario, & Manitoba. Moreover, almost half of the Jews in Canada reside in Toronto & around one-quarter live in Montreal. September is a busy month as Canadians will be celebrating Jewish holidays. There are celebrations of Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, & Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah
Canadians will be celebrating Jewish holidays, out of which the first one is Rosh Hashanah. The festival begins this year at sundown on September 15 & will last for around two days. It is known as the New Year in the Jewish calendar.
Moreover, it is a time when families gather & enjoy meals together.
Generally, family & friends get together & reflect on the past. Many Jewish people in Canada seek forgiveness from friends & family before the New Year begins in order to start afresh from the next year.
Furthermore, Jewish people eat challah bread, pomegranate, & apples dipped in honey to represent sweetness & good health for the following year.
Yom Kippur
When Rosh Hashanah comes to an end, Jewish people observe the end of the New Year period with Yom Kippur. It is known as the Day Of Atonement. This year, the holiday starts at sunset on September 24 & ends the next evening. Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the calendar.
This Jewish holiday involves fasting & praying because it is believed that people who repent for their sins will be granted a happy & prosperous New Year. The fasting lasts for 25 hours.
Many Canadian Jews attend special Yom Kippur services, which feature readings & songs. Finally, the holiday comes to an end as many people take part in ‘breaking’ the fast, which is a festive potluck after the fast is over.
Sukkot
Jewish people celebrate Sukkot four days after Yom Kippur. It is a celebration of the harvest & goes on for seven days.
The word ‘Sukkot’ is the plural of the Hebrew word, meaning a temporary hut, sukkah, or booth. The sukkah is a temporary structure which gets built for the holiday. Moreover, family & friends get involved in creating & decorating it.
Anything which is done in the home can be done in sukkah for the week. This includes eating & praying.
In addition, another part of the sukkah is waving the four species, i.e., the etrog in one hand, a thin bundle of plants made up of lulav, hadasim, & aravot. This is meant to represent the Jewish unity.
Celebrating Jewish Holidays In Canada
In addition to celebrating Jewish holidays, one must note that these holidays aren’t public holidays in Canada. Still, many businesses & organizations of Jewish people are closed during these three festivals.
Last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement regarding Rosh Hashanah, stating that this festival is an opportunity to identify & learn more about the Jewish community’s contributions to the nation. He further asserted that Canadian Jews have helped build a better nation & this is why the government will always stand up for them.
Finally, he said that Canada is a place where inclusion & diversity thrive and where everyone must be able to practice their traditions & take pride in their Canadian identity, free from any fear.