"Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: Hashem's Appointed Festivals that you are to designate as Holy Convocations--these are My Appointed Festivals. For six days melachah may be done, and on the seventh day it is a day of complete rest, a Holy Convocation, you shall not do any melachah; it is Shabbat for Hashem in all your dwelling places. These are the Appointed Festivals of Hashem, the Holy Convocations, which you shall designate in their appropriate time..." (Leviticus 23:1-4).

A Holy day is Meant to Sanctify the people and bring them close to Hashem, in commemoration of their past, in celebration of the present, and in anticipation for the future. It is Holy because Hashem Appointed that time as a Special space in the year, as He Chose Jerusalem as a Special place amongst His people--a space and a place to Rest His Name, and Dwell amongst our spirits. Since these days were Chosen and Sanctified, they have become Blessed, and so they are Holy to us--just as the site of the Temple is most Holy to all of Israel. In every day and occasion, and in every place and space, a person can bring himself close to G-d and live by the Spirit that is in him. But when it is done in an Appointed Time and in a Chosen place, the experience has a greater effect that is shared amongst the entire congregation of Israel--and is thus a Blessing for all Israel, that is so great, it gives forth a Light unto the nations and all the world benefits from the Sanctification.

Month cycle: "Hashem Spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of egypt, Saying, 'This month [of the Exodus] shall be for you the beginning of the months, it shall be for you the first of the months of the year...'" (Exodus 12:1-2). "You shall make the Festival of Weeks with the first offering of the wheat harvest; and the Festival of the Harvest shall be at the changing of the year." (Exodus 34:22). The first month of the year is the month of Pesach, in springtime, but the beginning of the year is in the time of Suckot, in fall. The months where counted by number, and the month of Pesach was called the "first month;" but in the beginning of the seventh month, it was considered a new year. Months were counted by moons, so that every new moon marked the beginning of a new month. But there are approximately 12.4 lunar months in every solar year, so that some years there would have to be 12 lunar months while in other years 13, in order to balance out the seasons according to the lunar months. From the time of Suckot (the "Festival of the Harvest") in the new year, until the time of Pesach in the first month, there are no Holy Days except for the weekly Sabbaths. This allowed for the seasons to be balanced during that time, since the first month had to begin in springtime.

Biblical Israel was a largely agrarian society, and the Holy Days were Marked by agricultural events, that follow the seasons, so that the calendar took two forms--that of months and that of seasons. The first harvest marked the beginning of the months, but the final harvest and the time of sowing, marked the beginning of a new year. Thus the year was counted by seasons and the beginning of a new agricultural period, while the months were counted by moons, beginning with the first produce. There's a very unique balance to this, which added to the Purpose of the Holidays. Pesach is a full week, and it is a week without bread, until the eighth day, with the first offering of the wheat harvest, and the counting of the Omer (which is the unit of measurement for that offering). The counting from the Omer is a full 7 weeks, and the fiftieth day is Shavuot, the "Festival of Weeks," when a new offering of bread and livestock is brought to the Temple. Then, about half a year after Pesach, on the same date of the 15th (which is a full moon), in the seventh month, in fall, Suckot is celebrated for a seven day period, with the eighth day being Shmini Atzeret. Thus the Holy days would also be a time of thanksgiving and a request to be Blessed with a good harvest, that on the days the people would appear before Hashem, their offering would also be a tax for the Temple and for the government, according to the Blessing and the success they had received.

Three Pilgrimage Festivals: "Three Pilgrimage Festivals shall you celebrate for Me during the year. You shall observe the Festival of Matzot; seven days shall you eat matzot, as I Have Commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of springtime, for in it you left egypt; you shall not be seen before Me empty-handed. And the Festival of the Harvest of the first fruits of your labor that you sow in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering at the close of the year, when you gather in your work from the field. Three times during the year shall all your males appear before the Lord, Hashem." (Exodus 23:14-17). "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord Hashem, the Judge of Israel. For I Shall Banish nations before you and Broaden your boundary; no man will covet your Land when you go up to appear before Hashem, your Judge, three times a year." (Exodus 23-24). "Three times a year all your males shall appear before Hashem, your Judge, in the Place that He will Choose: on the Festival of Matzot, the Festival of Shavuot, and the Festival of Suckot; and he shall not appear before Hashem empty handed, everyone according to what he can give, according to the Blessing that Hashem, your Judge, Gives you." (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).

Pesach: "The Pesach offering in egypt of a lamb or kid, that was to be eaten with matzot, with the blood of the offering as a sign on the doorposts, and Hashem Striking every firstborn of the land, but passing over the homes of the Hebrews, such that there was a plague of destruction in the land, and "an outcry in the entire land of egypt, such as there has never been and such as there shall never be again"--it is all Written from Exodus 11:4 to Exodus 12:13. "This day shall become a remembrance for you and you shall celebrate it as a Festival for Hashem; for your generations, as an Eternal Decree shall you celebrate it. For a seven-day period shall you eat matzot, but on the first day you shall nullify the leaven from your homes; for anyone who eats leavened food--that spirit shall be cut off from Israel, from the first day to the seventh day. On the first day shall be a Holy Convocation and on the seventh day shall be a Holy Convocation for you, no melachah may be done on them, except for what must be eaten for any person--only that may be done for you." (Exodus 12:14-16).

"You shall safeguard the matzot, for on this very day I will have Taken your legions out of the land of egypt; you shall observe this day for your generations as an Eternal Decree. In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening shall you eat matzot, until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening. For seven days, leaven may not be found in your homes, for anyone who eats leavening--that spirit shall be cut off from the assembly of Israel, whether a convert or a native of the Land. You shall not eat any leavening; in all your dwellings shall you eat matzot." (Exodus 12:17-20). Unleavened bread is a matter of purity, for like the fermentation of wine, leavened bread is a growth of fungus. Although it is baked before it has a chance to ferment, it still contains some of the byproducts of fungus, which is the intoxicant of alcohol. The children of Israel were Commanded to be in a state of purity during the time of the Exodus, that they would be attentive to the Miracles G-d Had Performed before them and aware of all that G-d Had Commanded them... "I Led you for forty years in the wilderness, your garment did not wear out from on you, and your shoe did not wear out from on your foot. Bread you did not eat and wine or intoxicant you did not drink, so that you would know that I Am Hashem, your G-d." (Deuteronomy 29:4-5)...

"Moses called to the elders of Israel and said to them: Draw forth or buy for yourselves one of the flock for your families, and slaughter the Pesach-offering. You shall take a bundle of hyssop and dip it into the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with some of the blood that is in the basin, and as for you, no man shall leave the entrance of his house until morning. Hashem will pass through to smite egypt, and He will see the blood that is on the lintel and the two doorposts; and Hashem will pass over the entrance and He will not permit the destroyer to enter your homes to smite. You shall observe this matter as a Decree for yourselves and for your children forever. It shall be that when you come to the Land that Hashem will Give you, as He Has Spoken, you shall observe this service. And it shall be that when your children say to you, 'What is this service to you?' You shall say, 'It is a Pesach-offering to Hashem, Who Passed over the houses of the children of Israel in egypt when He Smote the egyptians, but He Saved our households,' and the people bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. The children of Israel went and did as Hashem Commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they do." (Exodus 12:21-28).

This offering was done on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the afternoon; the day before Pesach and the Exodus. It was at midnight, of that night, the early morning of the fifteenth day, that Hashem Smote every firstborn of the egyptians, and all egypt rose up that night and hastened to send Israel from its midst, "for they said, 'We are all dying!'" (Exodus 12:33). The service of this offering of the fourteenth day, was to be done even in Israel, for all generations, and the blood of the offering would be as a sign upon our doorposts, for the time of the Exodus. However, the children of Israel, today, put mezuzot on their doorposts as a permanent sign of the Torah and of the Laws--for this is a worthy sign of the Covenant, and that Israel Has Been Separated from the nations. Furthermore, it is Forbidden to offer outside of the Temple. This service will be performed only in the Temple, before the eyes of all Israel, rather than individually in every home.

"Hashem Said to Moses and Aaron, 'This is the Decree of the Pesach-offering: no alienated person may eat from it. Every slave of a man, who was bought for money, you shall circumcise him; then he may eat of it. A sojourner and a hired laborer may not eat it. In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not remove any of the meat from the house to the outside, and you shall not break a bone in it. The entire assembly of Israel shall perform it. When a proselyte sojourns among you he shall make the Pesach-offering for Hashem, each of his males shall be circumcised, and then he may draw near to perform it and he shall be like the native of the Land; no uncircumcised male may eat of it. One Law shall there be for the native and the proselyte who lives among you." (Exodus 12:43-49).

"You shall observe the month of the springtime and perform the Pesach-offering for Hashem, your G-d, for in the month of springtime Hashem, your G-d, Took you out of egypt at night. You shall slaughter the Pesach-offering to Hashem, your G-d, from the flock and cattle, in the place where Hashem will Choose to Rest His Name. You shall not eat leavened bread with it, for seven days you shall eat matzot because of it, bread of affliction, for you departed from the land of egypt in haste--so that you will remember the day of your departure from the land of egypt all the days of your life. No leaven of yours shall be seen throughout your boundary for seven days, nor shall any of the flesh that you slaughter on the afternoon before the first day remain overnight until morning. You may not slaughter the Pesach-offering in one of your cities that Hashem, your G-d, Gives you; except at the place that Hashem, your G-d, will Choose to Rest His Name, there shall you slaughter the Pesach-offering in the afternoon, when the sun descends, the Appointed time of your departure from egypt. You shall roast it and eat it in the place that Hashem, your G-d, will Choose, and in the morning you may turn back and go to your tents." (Deuteronomy 16:1-7).

"In the first month on the fourteenth of the month in the afternoon is the time of the Pesach-offering to Hashem. And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Matzot to Hashem; you shall eat matzot for a seven-day period. On the first day there shall be a Holy Convocation for you; all acts of creation may not be done. You shall bring a fire-offering to Hashem for a seven-day period; on the seventh day shall be a Holy Convocation; all acts of creation may not be done." (Leviticus 23:5-8). "...On the first day is a Holy Convocation; all acts of creation may not be done. You shall offer a fire-offering, a burnt-offering to Hashem: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs within their first year, unblemished shall they be for you. And their meal-offering: fine flour mixed with oil; you shall make three tenth-ephah for each bull and two tenth-ephah for the ram. One tenth-ephah shall you make for each lamb of the seven lambs. And one he-goat for a sin-offering, to atone for you. Aside from the burnt-offering of the morning that is for the continual burnt-offering shall you make these. Like these shall you make each day of the seven-day period: flour, a fire-offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem; in addition to the continual burnt-offering shall it be made, and its libation. And the seventh day shall be a Holy Convocation for you; all acts of creation may not be done." (Numbers 28:18-25).

This will be done when the Temple is rebuilt. If the Temple is not big enough, although it will be built to accommodate for the vast multitude of Israel, then not all would be able to attend for the Pesach-offering of the afternoon before the first day of Pesach--which is an Appointed Festival for all Israel, to be observed in Jerusalem. Since most of the country would have to attend; all the men, and even the women would and should attend, then attendance for the first or last days of Pesach will serve as a fulfillment of the Commandment to appear before Hashem. And if, since Hashem should Bless us and Multiply us many times our size as He Has Spoken, that Israel should be so fruitful that no city and no structure could contain its multitudes, then attendance on any of the days of Pesach, as in the afternoon and evening before Pesach, and even including the second Pesach, which is a month later--attendance in the Temple on any one of these days will count as a fulfillment of the Commandment to appear before Hashem for Pesach.

Second Pesach: "...There were men who had been contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the Pesach-offering on that day; so they approached Moses and Aaron on that day. Those men said to him, 'We are contaminated through a human corpse; why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem's offering in its Appointed time among the children of Israel?' Moses said to them, 'Stand and I will hear what Hashem will Command you.' And Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If any man will become contaminated through a human corpse or on a distant road, whether you or your generations, he shall make the Pesach-offering for Hashem; in the second month, on the fourteenth day, in the afternoon, shall they make it; with matzot and bitter herbs shall they eat it. They shall not leave over from it until morning nor shall they break a bone of it; like all the Decrees of the Pesach-offering shall they make it. But a man who is pure and was not on the road and had refrained from making the Pesach-offering, that spirit shall be cut off from its people, for he had not offered Hashem's offering in its Appointed time; that man will bear his sin. When a convert shall dwell with you, and he shall make a Pesach-offering to Hashem, according to the Decree of the Pesach-offering and its Law, so shall he do; One Decree shall be for you, for the proselyte and the native of the Land." (Numbers 9:6-14).

The Omer: "Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you shall enter the Land that I Give you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring an Omer from your first harvest to the Kohen. He shall wave the Omer before Hashem to gain favor for you; on the morrow of the rest day the Kohen shall wave it. On the day you wave the Omer, you shall perform the service of an unblemished lamb in its first year as a burnt-offering to Hashem. It's meal-offering shall be two tenth-ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a fire-offering to Hashem, a satisfying aroma; and its libation shall be wine, a quarter-hin. You shall not eat bread or roasted kernels or plump kernels until this very day, until you bring the offering of your Judge; it is an Eternal Decree for your generations in all your dwelling places." (Leviticus 23:9-14). The offering of the Omer is done the day after Pesach; the day after the rest day, of the seventh day of Pesach, rather than after the first rest day of Pesach, as has been commonly accepted. Thus it is on this day that bread can be eaten--the day after the week of Pesach.

Shavuot: "You shall count for yourselves--from the morrow of the rest day, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving--seven weeks, they shall be complete. Until the morrow of the seventh week you shall count, fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal-offering to Hashem. From your dwelling places you shall bring bread that shall be waved, two loaves made of two tenth-ephah, they shall be fine flour, they shall be baked leavened; first-offerings to Hashem. With the bread you shall offer seven unblemished lambs in their first year, one young bull, and two rams; they shall be a burnt-offering to Hashem, with their meal-offerings and their libations--a fire-offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem. You shall make one he-goat as a sin-offering, and two lambs in their first year as feast peace-offerings. The Kohen shall wave them upon the first-offering breads as a wave-service before Hashem--upon the two sheep--they shall be Holy, for Hashem and for the Kohen. You shall declare on this very day--a Holy Convocation shall it be for you--all acts of creation may not be done; an Eternal Decree in all your dwelling places for your generations." (Leviticus 23:15-21).

"On the day of the first-fruits, when you offer a new meal-offering to Hashem on your Festival of Weeks, it shall be a Holy Convocation for you; all acts of creation may not be done..." (Numbers 28:26). "You shall count seven weeks for yourselves; from when the sickle is first put to the standing crop shall you begin counting seven weeks. Then you shall observe the Festival of Shavuot for Hashem, your Judge; the voluntary offerings that you give should commensurate with how much Hashem, your Judge, Will Have Blessed you. You shall rejoice before Hashem, your Judge--you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant; the Levite who is in your cities, the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow who are among you--in the place that Hashem, your Judge, will Choose to Rest His Name. You shall remember that you were a slave in egypt, and you shall observe and perform these Decrees." (Deuteronomy 16:9-12).

The Designated offerings are minimal before the vast multitude of Israel. It is the voluntary offerings that will be brought to rejoice over the Festivity, for the people to eat according to all the Blessings they had received. This is to be done only in the Temple. Since no structure should be enough to contain the multitudes of Israel, those who would attend in the days leading up to the Festival of Weeks, to offer from their first fruits according to their means and according to what they see fit, will have fulfilled their obligation to appear before Hashem, and they will rest on the 50th day, and can attend local congregations to celebrate.

The voluntary offerings of Shavuot, like the offerings of Pesach, are to pay tribute to Hashem, as a tax for the Temple and for the government--in addition to being a time of Festivity and a Holy Day. This is done according to the Blessing that was received; according to the bountiful harvest that was Granted. For even after Shavuot there would be much more to reap, until the end of the year--and so the offering is to gain Favor for a continual Blessing. But today people are taxed automatically for every transaction, for all income, and for many assets--and it is no longer voluntary. Therefore the taxes should not be increased for anything pertaining to the Temple, as it should remain voluntary--lest the people consider their days of Festivity a time of debt and depression, and they see the Temple as a sign of their burden rather than the Pride of the nation. Surely G-d has a Right to tax His people, for all the world is His and it is from Him that people are Blessed with all they are Given. Yet our Judge Requests only a voluntary offering, that we should be Blessed according to our generosity. Surely then, the government of Israel should use great caution not to over-burden its people with mandatory taxes--for no government should take more than it can return with interest, in its investment for the benefit of the nation and for future generations. As when Israel lives by the Word of G-d and offers to Hashem from the best of its success, so is Israel Blessed abundantly and Rewarded Justly in all that it does.

Rosh HaShanah: "Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: Speak to the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a rest day for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a Holy Convocation. All acts of creation may not be done, and you shall offer a fire-offering to Hashem." (Leviticus 23:23-25). "...it shall be a day of shofar sounding for you. You shall make a burnt-offering for a satisfying aroma to Hashem: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year, unblemished. And their meal-offering: fine flour mixed with oil--three tenth-ephah for the bull; two-tenth ephah for the ram; and one tenth-ephah for each lamb of the seven lambs. One male of the goats for a sin-offering to provide atonement. Aside from the burnt-offering of the New Moon and its meal-offering, the continual burnt-offerings and its meal-offerings, and their libations according to their Rules--for a satisfying aroma, a fire-offering to Hashem." (Numbers 29:1-6).

Yom Kippur: "Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: But on the tenth day of this month it is the Day of Atonement; there shall be a Holy Convocation for you, and you shall afflict yourselves and offer a fire-offering to Hashem. And all melachah may not be done on this very day, for it is the Day of Atonement to provide you atonement before Hashem, your Judge. For any spirit who will not be afflicted on this very day will be but off from its people. And any spirit who will do any melachah on this very day, I will destroy that spirit from amongst its people. All melachah shall not be done; an Eternal Decree throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. It is a day of complete rest for you and you shall afflict yourselves; on the ninth of the month in the evening--from evening to evening--shall you rest on your rest day." (Leviticus 23:26-32). "...You shall offer a burnt-offering to Hashem for a satisfying aroma--one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year; unblemished shall they be for you. And their meal-offering: fine flour mixed with oil--three tenth-ephah for the bull; two-tenth ephah for the one ram; and one tenth-ephah for each lamb of the seven lambs. One male of the goats for a sin-offering, aside from the sin-offering of the atonement and the continual burnt-offering, with its meal-offering, and their libations." (Numbers 29:8-11).

The entire service of Yom Kippur that is performed by the Kohen Gadol to provide atonement for the Temple, for himself, his family, the Kohanim, and for the entire congregation of Israel, is described in Leviticus 16. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month; ten days into the new year. The New Year is celebrated on the first of the month, and then the people must atone for their sins and their errors, in order to purify themselves for the new year--lest Israel lead itself astray and the people suffer because of their guilt.

Sukkot: "...But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the crop of the Land, you shall celebrate Hashem's Festival for a seven-day period; the first day is a rest day and the eighth day is a rest day. You shall take for yourselves on the first day of the fruit of a citron tree, the branches of date palms, twigs of a plaited tress, and brook willows; and you shall rejoice before Hashem, your Judge, for a seven-day period. You shall celebrate it as a Festival for Hashem, a seven-day period in the year, an Eternal Decree for your generations; in the seventh month shall you celebrate it. You shall dwell in booths for a seven-day period; every native in Israel shall dwell in booths. So that your generations will know that I Caused the children of Israel to dwell in booths when I Took them from the land of egypt; I Am Hashem, your Judge." (Leviticus 23:39-43).

"You shall make the Festival of Sukkot for a seven-day period, when you gather in from your threshing floor and from your wine cellar. You shall rejoice on your Festival--you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant; the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow who are in your cities. A seven-day period shall you celebrate to Hashem, your Judge, in the place that Hashem, your Judge, will Choose, for Hashem Will Have Blessed you in all your crop and in all your handiwork, and you will be completely joyous." (Deuteronomy 16:13-15). "...You shall offer a burnt-offering, a fire-offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs in their first year; they shall be unblemished. And their meal-offerings..." (Numbers 29:13-14). "And on the second day: twelve young bulls... And on the third day: eleven bulls..." (Numbers 29:17,20). The fourth day, ten bulls, until the seventh day, seven bulls... And the eighth day is Shmini Atzeret.

Shmini Atzeret: "Hashem Spoke to Moses, Saying: Speak to the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, a seven-day period for Hashem. On the first day is a Holy Convocation, all acts of creation may not be done. For a seven-day period you shall offer a fire-offering to Hashem; on the eighth day there shall be a Holy Convocation for you and you shall offer a fire-offering to Hashem; it is an assembly, all acts of creation may not be done." (Leviticus 23:33-36). "The eighth day shall be a restriction for you; all acts of creation may not be done. You shall offer a burnt-offering, a fire-offering, a satisfying aroma to Hashem; one bull, one ram, seven lambs within their first year, unblemished. Their meal-offering and libations for the bull, the ram, and the lambs shall be in their proper numbers, as required. One he-goat for a sin-offering; aside from the continual burnt-offering, its meal-offering and its libations." (Numbers 29:35-38). This is the last Holy Convocation (other than Sabbaths and New Moons), before the cold seasons give way to springtime and the Festival of Pesach, with the new harvest. "Atzeret" literally means a halt or a stop, which causes people to crowd together in a gathering; but that is also the end of the gathering of the crops, and thus the final Festivity of the harvests.

New Moons: "On your New Moons, you shall bring a burnt-offering to Hashem: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs in their first year, unblemished. And three tenth-ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering mixed with oil... And their libations: a half-hin for each bull, a third-hin for the ram, a quarter-hin for each lamb--of wine. This is the monthly burnt-offering in its own month for the months of the year. And one male of the goats for a sin-offering to Hashem. In addition to the continual burnt-offering shall it be made, and its libation." (Numbers 28:11-12, 14-15).

Aside from other offerings: "These are the Appointed Festivals of Hashem that you shall proclaim as Holy Convocations, to offer a fire-offering to Hashem: a burnt-offering and its meal-offering, a feast-offering and its libation, each day's requirement on its day. Aside from Hashem's Sabbaths, and aside from your gifts, aside from all your vows, and aside from all your free-will offerings, which you will present to Hashem." (Leviticus 23:37-38).

Holidays of the exile: Any other holiday that is not mentioned in the Torah, which is the invention of the Tannaim and the Rabbis--these are merely opinions, and are not the Commandments of G-d. These holidays, such as Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B'Shvat, Purim, Tisha B'Av, and the minor fasts, can be celebrated, but not as a Commandment of G-d. Those who read Parashot (or sections) from the Torah, on a weekly basis, can celebrate the completion of their reading--although it is not a national holiday. Chanukah, which celebrates the rebellion of the Chashmonayim against Greek occupation--a rebellion that achieved little for Israel and the Rule of G-d, as it ended in civil war, foreign occupation, destruction, and exile--it is not something worth celebrating, nor an example to be followed. Tu B'Shvat is merely a day on the calendar, like earth day, which celebrates the birth and growth of trees. Purim celebrates the reversal of a calamity in exile, which was a great relief for many; although the exile is known for its curse and devastation, for out of those who survived, many more have perished. Those who would celebrate any aspect of the exile, are merely seeking comfort in their curse, and an excuse for their betrayal. Tisha B'Av and all the fast days of the exile, that mourn the destruction and curse of Israel, are not a proper behavior for the nation of G-d. Only cowards would cry and close their eyes, but Israel must uphold the Laws of G-d, and never despair for its Cause. All these extra holidays can be seen a betrayal of G-d, and as a defiance of His Laws, since there are enough Holy Days in the year, that Israel should commemorate the mistakes of its past.

New Holidays: The New Holidays of Israel, such as Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, Yom HaAtzmaut, and Yom Yerushalayim--these are not the Commandments of G-d, but can be observed as days of national significance. Yom HaShoah, which memorializes the Holocaust, should be renamed Yom HaKdoshim (Day of the Sanctified). Those who lost their lives for the cause of Israel, throughout the long period of exile, should not be remembered as victims, but rather for their dedication to G-d. For all they had not done in life, they were Sanctified in death--for although they could have completely nullified their Covenant and forgotten all Distinctions, they never forgot who they were and were willing to sacrifice everything for the survival of Israel and the Sanctification of Hashem; it is through them that Israel has survived to this day, and can once more be Restored in its Role. Yom HaZikaron memorializes the brave fighters of Israel--upon whom the nation was built and by whom the nation survives and is Strengthened. Yom HaAtzmaut is the Israel Independence Day. Although Israel did not restore the Rule of G-d at the time, that day will remain the initial victory of Israel, to recognize the period of Restoration. Yom Yerushalayim commemorates the reunification of Jerusalem during the Six Day War. This marked the beginning of a continuing struggle to restore Israel to its True Form, which will culminate in the reconstruction of the Temple--and the Redemption of Israel.