My Top 5 Jewish Holidays:

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1. Shabbat

Shabbat is the best time to reflect on the previous week and reset preparing for the coming week. I love Shabbat because of all the amazing memories connected to it. When I think of Shabbat, I think of the exciting camp Shabbats, bringing me back to summer. I also love how diverse Shabbat can be! Everyone has their own traditions making planning BBYO Shabbat events so fun.

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2. Tu B'shevat

Tu B'shevat is a holiday I just recently started to celebrate again. I feel like it's one of those holidays where, as a kid, you hear a lot about it and have so much fun celebrating it, but as you get older, you forget about it. Tu B'shevat is the new year of the trees and it is such a fun holiday to participate in. To celebrate Tu B'shevat you could plant a tree, try a new fruit, help out in a trash clean up, send money to Israel to plant a tree, and so much more!

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3. Passover 

Passover has been one of my favorite holidays for years. I loved this holiday so much because it has an important story behind it that deserves to be celebrated, and it has a unique celebration. When I was younger, I always thought that Hanukkah was nonsense and I didn't like that it was the only Jewish holiday that most non-Jewish people knew about. Passover, on the other hand, is about the 10 commandments and how our ancestors escaped Egypt, starting their journey in the desert. The only part of this holiday that I don't love is that every year I am the youngest and at the seder, I have to say the 4 questions (which I really disliked doing). 

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4. Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is one of my Top 5 favorites not just because it's refreshing to have a “new start” on New Year's Eve, but also because it's an opportunity for a fresh start religiously. Rosh Hashanah allows you to reconnect with yourself, your resolutions, your family, and your life. It’s also fun to be with family and friends and hear everyone around you always saying “Shana Tova!” blessing your new year.

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5. Hanukkah 

I feel like I had to include Hanukkah on this list because it really is a classic. In addition to it being 8 nights long, something I love about Hanukkah is that you get to see which celebrities are Jewish, as many post for the holiday. Every year you can sort out who posts, “Merry Christmas!” or, “Happy Hanukkah!”. Another pretty awesome thing, that probably makes it most children's favorite holiday, is that you get presents! Although I don't get presents all 8 nights like in the movies, I still get a bunch, and I'm incredibly grateful. It's also really exciting to give gifts to the people you love.