How Can A Non-agricultural Jew Who Doesn't Live In Israel, Celebrate The Jewish Feasts?
For a Jew who does not live in Israel, is not a farmer, and does not have access to lamb, barley, or wheat, the Torah feasts can still be observed in meaningful ways. Since the destruction of the Second Temple, the system of animal and grain sacrifices cannot be performed. Instead, various substitutions and traditions have developed over time to maintain the essence of these feasts.
How a Non-Agricultural Jew Can Celebrate These Feasts Today
1. Passover (Pesach) – Commemorating Redemption
Key Focus: Remembering the Exodus and freedom from slavery.
How to Celebrate:
Read the Exodus story (Exodus 12–15) and reflect on its meaning.
Remove leaven (chametz) from your home before the festival.
Host or attend a Seder, using a Haggadah (order of the Seder).
Eat matzah as a remembrance of the haste in which Israel left Egypt.
Since there is no Temple for sacrifices, the lamb offering is not required; some eat roasted meat, while others avoid lamb entirely.
Substitutions for Offerings:
The Passover lamb was a Temple sacrifice. Today, it is remembered through storytelling, prayer, and eating the Seder meal.
Instead of an altar offering, the Seder includes symbolic foods (bitter herbs, charoset, egg, matzah, etc.).
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) – Living Without Sin
Key Focus: Spiritual and physical removal of leaven.
How to Celebrate:
Eat only unleavened bread (matzah) for 7 days.
Avoid chametz (leavened products)—symbolizing sin or pride.
Reflect on personal growth: Use this time to cleanse your life spiritually, just as leaven is removed from the home.
Substitutions for Offerings:
Since grain offerings were made in the Temple, today, we honor this by eating matzah, which represents purity and faith.
Instead of sacrifices, people offer prayers, study, and charity (tzedakah).
3. Feast of Firstfruits (Yom HaBikkurim – Barley) – Offering the First to God
Key Focus: Acknowledging God as the provider of all things.
How to Celebrate:
Give thanks to God for provision and sustenance.
Offer “firstfruits” in a symbolic way—this could be a donation, special prayer, or committing to a spiritual discipline.
Read Leviticus 23:9-14 and reflect on God’s blessings.
Substitutions for Offerings:
Since there is no barley offering today, one can symbolically offer the "first" of their income, time, or resources as an act of devotion.
4. Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) – Preparing for Revelation
Key Focus: Spiritual refinement in anticipation of Shavuot.
How to Celebrate:
Verbally count each of the 50 days (with a blessing if following tradition).
Meditate on self-improvement—each day represents an opportunity for growth.
Study Torah daily as preparation for receiving wisdom.
Substitutions for Offerings:
Originally, an omer of barley was brought daily. Today, the focus is spiritual growth instead of agricultural offerings.
5. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot – Wheat & Torah) – Receiving the Word
Key Focus: Celebrating the giving of the Torah at Sinai.
How to Celebrate:
Stay up all night studying Torah (if possible)—this is a widespread custom.
Read the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth.
Eat dairy foods (symbolizing the nourishing quality of Torah).
Give thanks for spiritual and physical sustenance.
Substitutions for Offerings:
Instead of two wheat loaves, modern Jews honor the day by studying Torah and offering prayers of thanksgiving.
Final Thoughts
Even without a Temple or agricultural lifestyle, Jews can still observe the heart and purpose of these feasts through prayer, study, symbolic actions, and giving to others. The key is to honor God, remember His commandments, and grow spiritually in alignment with these Biblical times.
