Do Jews celebrate secular holidays?
Yes, Jews have always observed civic and secular holidays. Some synagogues have a national flag on display and many synagogues participate in interfaith observances of holidays such as Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Learn more.
Learn how to celebrate these holidays Jewishly with prayers, blessing, blost posts and articles.
Learn more about secular holidays
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Holiday Resources
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Working Jewish Values into Our Thanksgiving Observance
If we only take the time to say a few words of thanksgiving to God, whether for bringing the family together or for giving us the food on our plates, we can make Thanksgiving have Jewish meaning.
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7 Jewish Resolutions for the Secular New Year
The start of the secular new year is commonly a time for making resolutions for individual betterment in the year to come. Why not incorporate some Judaism into your New Year's resolutions?
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Five Jewish Readings for Memorial Day
Memorial Day may not be a Jewish holiday, but the concept of remembering and honoring our dead is certainly a Jewish value. Here are a few Memorial Day prayers you may wish to recite in honor of this holiday.
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Halloween: A Jewish Perspective for Parents
The question of how to handle Halloween - whether to participate, and if so, how - is one that is often discussed amongst Jewish parents as the holiday approaches. Reform Jewish tradition guides us to make decisions based on “informed choice.”
RELATING TO SECULAR HOLIDAYS
- What’s the Difference Between the Secular and Jewish New Year?
- How does Reform Judaism say we should best honor our mothers in today’s world?
- Is Purim akin to a Jewish Halloween?
- Do Jews celebrate secular holidays?
- Do Jews celebrate Valentine’s Day? Is there a Jewish holiday similar to Valentine's Day?
- How do I bring Jewish values into a secular holiday like Halloween?
What's New
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No, Thank *You* For Your Service
November 1, 2023
It wasn't because of 9/11. It wasn't because I had a tradition of military service in my family. And while the pay and benefits are nice, it wasn't for those reasons, either. That wasn't why I joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 2003 and later switched to the Air National Guard. I joined for the same reason I became a rabbi: I have a desire to serve others and be part of something larger than myself.
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4 Spooky Mystical Jewish Figures
October 24, 2022
Even though Halloween began as a pagan holiday, it now brings spooky fun to children and adults of all backgrounds, including many Jews who view it more as a traditional holiday than a religious holiday.
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A Jewish Take on New Year’s Resolutions
December 27, 2021
New Year's Day and the traditional resolutions that accompany it invite us to take stock of our lives. Are we living our lives to the fullest? Can we imagine a future in which the commitments we make for ourselves (e.g., healthier habits around eating and exercise) actually come true? What will it take this year to really change?