About Observing Holy Days
Question
I have looking up all the holy days we are commanded to observe and I do not understand how to do them. For example, NUMBERS28:26-31 the feast of weeks, NUMBERS 29:1-6 a sacred occasion, NUMBERS 29:7-11 a sacred occasion, NUMBERS 29:12-39 a sacred occasion,a festival of the LORD. All of these holy days require certain sacrifices but only a Levite priest can offer sacrifices and only at the temple in Israel. How do I observe them. Also NUMBERS10:2-6 is the reference I found for the feast of trumpets but these verse never specifically refer to it as the feast of trumpets and only a Levite preist is allowed to blow the trumpets. So how can this command be observed. Also LEVITICUS 23:33-43 the feast of booth is never written on the jewish calender I have and neither is the feast of unleavened bread which is to be the day after passover.LEVITICUS23:4-8 and NUMBERS 28:16-25 .please help me understand.
Answers
The description of the Holy Days as found in the Torah mostly revolve around the sacrifices and the Temple Service. As you point out, there is no longer a Temple, which means that the way that the Holy Days are celebrated is very different today from how they were celebrated in the Temple. However, due to the fact that each Festival is replete with unique details as to how to celebrate it correctly, it is beyond the scope of this forum to explain it all.
Personally, I would recommend that you try a wonderful book called Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher, published by ArtScroll. It is a fascinating and very easy to read “mini-encyclopedia” about Judaism and the Jewish year. It is written in an informative and humorous style and it covers the spectrum of Judaism, both the practical side and the philosophical/theological side.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team