(RNS) — Elul, the current and final month in the ancient Hebrew calendar, is a time of introspection, preparation and forgiveness as Jews prepare for the High Holidays: first the new year ...

A "Christmukkah" as rare as this one occurs due to the Hebrew calendar not aligning with the Gregorian calendar, causing the start of the Hanukkah holiday to move dates annually. The holidays have ...

It is not a major religious holiday in the Jewish calendar. The Books of the Maccabees are not included in the Jewish biblical canon, and the Babylonian Talmud only briefly explains the holiday's ...