Friday, March 29, 2024 -
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When two holidays — and no holidays — are on Shabbat

What two holidays occur on Saturday but are celebrated on a Friday and Monday?

It’s good riddle, no? Looking for the explanation? It’s what’s happening in the Jewish and secular calendar over the next couple days. We’ll try to keep it straight for you. Here we go:

July 4th, Shabbat and the Fast on 17 Tammuz are all on Saturday. Because Independence Day falls on a Saturday, the public holiday is tomorrow, July 3rd. And because 17 Tammuz is on Shabbat, which is a day of celebration when we are forbidden to fast (the one exception being Yom Kippur), the fast day is being marked on Sunday, July 5th.

There you have it: Two holidays that should be marked on Shabbat, but instead are each bookending Shabbat.

If you’re looking for a Jewish-themed Fourth, several local synagogues are having outdoor Friday night services followed by picnics. In our opinion, July 4th really is all about outdoor fun with family and friends, nothing that doesn’t fit in with Shabbat. What about a seudah shlishit picnic in a spot that allows for good viewing of the fireworks downtown, followed by a Havdallah (or do the blasts lighting up the sky count as candle-light?). And before the holiday — but on the public holiday, July 3rd — get in the spirit with this chasidic rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Happy Fourth!




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