Israeli Holiday Menu

Holidays in Israel are an opportunity to gather family and friends together for delicious speciality dishes unique to that particular holiday. The Jewish holiday always begins at sundown and ends at sundown.

On this page, I have laid out the holidays by season, beginning with the Fall Feasts and Fasts. But first take a trip of Israel and view the colorful landscape and tasty foods of the Land.

Fall & Winter Festivals & Fasts

Rosh HaShana (Jewish New Year) Menu

The celebration of the Jewish New Year begins at sundown with prayers at the neighborhood synagogue, followed by a traditional family formal meal. Lighting the candles to set apart the holy day is reserved for the mother of the family. This is the first of the fall festivals on the Jewish calendar and usually comes September-October.

The Menu

Holiday Round Challah Bread, served with Honey

Garlic Soup

Roast Turkey, Gravy

Roasted Vegetables

Roasted Potatoes

Corn on the Cob

Roasted Red Pepper Salad

Israeli Honey Cake

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Erev Yom Kippur -Day of Atonement (Evening meal prior to the Fast)

The meal before the Yom Kippur fast is very important. Because of the type of fast that the Jewish people do on Yom Kippur, it demands a satisfying but easy-to-digest meal. The family usually sits down to eat about an hour and a half before sundown to eat their final meal before the fast, and then go to Synagogue to begin the Day of Atonement special prayers. The fast is very difficult because it is without food or water for 24 hours. Coupled with the hot and dry climate in Israel, this can be exceptionally difficult for many people, a personal sacrifice unto God.

The Meal

Challah Bread

Chicken & Noodle Soup

Nile Perch

Roast Potatoes

Green Beans

Beet Salad

Rose's Banana-Pineapple Cake

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Yom Kippur Menu (Breaking the Fast)

Breaking such a difficult fast - even for only 24 hours - is just as important as the fast itself. Therefore an easy menu is prepared, adding courses as each person feels they are ready.

The Meal

Challah Rolls & Herbed Butter

Vegetable Soup

Broiled Salmon

Steamed Red Potatoes, Leeks, Carrots & Parmesean Cheese

Syrian Rice

Butterscotch Pudding & Whipped Cream

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Succot (Feast of Tabernacles) Menu

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Succot, as it is known in Hebrew, is one of the most joyous of the biblical celebrations. Immediately following the breaking of the fast of Yom Kippur, you will hear hammers all over the city of Jerusalem, putting together the flimsy structures of the succa for the 7-day festival. The Bible commands us to be joyous for the entire week...let's do it!

The Menu

Vegetable & Red Lentil Soup

Holiday Challah Bread

Roast Turkey

Mashed Potatoes and gravy

Delicious Green Beans

Corn on the Cob

Rose's Hummingbird Cake

Fruit Platter

Hanukkah (Feast of Lights)

This holiday generally comes in December, and by this time, it is quite cold and gets dark earlier. Therefore the menorah of candle lights, one new candle each night for 8 nights, is a beautiful display in the window of each Jewish home. A walk through the Old City of Jerusalem on the 8th night is a beautiful sight on a cold wintery night.

Because of the oil miracle in the Temple, foods cooked in oils are traditional during the season of Hanukkah.

The Menu

Vegetable Soup

Potatoe Latkes & Sour Cream

Suvganiot (Hanukkah doughnuts)

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Spring & Summer Festivals

Purim

Preceeding the celebration of Purim is a 3-day absolute fast that many ultra-orthodox Jews endure. It is called "the Esther fast" from the Book of Esther. This is such a severe fast in that it is not only without food, but also without water.

On the third day, the evening begins a great celebration remembering the amazing salvation of Jews from annihilation. As long as I've lived among the Jewish people, I continue to be amazed at how each year, there seems to always be an enemy of the Jewish people that had arisen, and yet, miraculously, God has removed their ability to harm the Jewish people.

The Menu

Haman Oznaim (Haman's Ears)

Poppyseed Muffins

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Pesach - Passover

The Menu

Chicken Soup & Matzah Balls

Roast Lamb or Entrecote or Stuffed Chicken

Roasted vegetables

Spring greens salad & Feta Cheese

Spring Asparagus & Roasted Red Peppers

Passover Chocolate Brownies

Macaroons

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Passover Holiday BBQ

The Menu

Matzah Crackers & Liver Pate

Charoset

Grilled Beef & Chicken Kabobs

Vegetable Kabobs

Red Cabbage Salad

Potatoe Salad

Israeli Pasta & Vegetable Salad

Devilled Eggs

Melons & Strawberries

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Yom Ha'atzmaut BBQ (Israel Independence Day)

Israel's Day of Independence is quite a joyous occasion as Israeli's celebrate literally in the streets with traditional dancing way into the wee hours of the morning. The following day is a national BBQ day where thousands of Israeli's head out to the parks with their portable BBQ's, kabobs and all the trimings, enjoying concerts and fun with their family and friends.

The Menu

Lamb, Chicken & Beef Kabobs - Combo

Vegetable Kabobs

Olive oil & Parsley Dressing

Lebane

Tabouli

Israeli Vegetable Salad

Humous & Pita

Watermelon & Feta Cheese

Golani Cherries

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Shavuot - Pentecost

The Feast of Shavuot, or Pentecost, generally has dairy foods for each of the meals. Blintzes are particularly traditional for the evening meal as are an abundance of various cheese dishes.

The Menu

Quiche with Spring Greens

Stir-fried Zuchinni & Dill

Small Red Potatoes & Parmesean Cheese

Feta Cheese Salad with olives

Cheese Cake with Fresh Strawberries

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"Keep the feasts of the LORD..." --Leviticus