Holiday and Jewish Life Resources
Learn more about Jewish holidays and explore resources to continue your Jewish learning.
Holiday Resources
Jewish holidays bring meaning, rhythm, and connection to Jewish life throughout the year. They offer time to celebrate, reflect, gather in community, and honor the traditions and values that shape our shared story.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year. It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life.
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a day of deep reflection and atonement, a time to seek forgiveness, repair relationships, and commit to positive change in the year ahead.
Sukkot
Sukkot is a joyful harvest festival that celebrates gratitude and the natural world. It is a time to gather in temporary outdoor shelters, reflect on life’s blessings, and appreciate the shelter, community, and abundance that sustain us.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of lights. It is a time to celebrate the resilience of the Jewish people, honor the miracle of the oil, and bring warmth and joy into the winter season through candles, blessings, and shared traditions.
Tu B’shvat
Tu B’Shvat is the Jewish new year for trees. It is a time to celebrate the natural world, reflect on our connection to the environment, and appreciate the growth, renewal, and sustenance that trees bring to our lives.
Purim
Purim is a festive celebration of courage and community. It is a time to retell the story of Esther, rejoice with costumes and treats, and embrace the joy, resilience, and unity at the heart of Jewish life.
Passover
Passover is the Jewish festival of freedom. It is a time to retell the Exodus story, gather for the seder, and reflect on the journey from oppression to liberation while celebrating the values that continue to guide us today.
Shavuot
Shavuot is the festival that celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is a time to reflect on Jewish learning, embrace the responsibilities of our tradition, and gather in community to honor the values that shape our shared Jewish life.
Shabbat
Shabbat is the weekly day of rest and renewal. It is a time to pause from the demands of daily life, gather with loved ones, and embrace the peace, reflection, and connection that sustain Jewish community and spirit.
Jewish life Resources
Jewish life is rich with tradition, learning, community, and connection. It weaves together ancient wisdom and modern experience, offering meaning, belonging, and a shared sense of purpose for Jews everywhere.
Hebrew
Hebrew, known in Hebrew as Lashon Hakodesh, the holy language, stands at the heart of Jewish life. It is the language of our most sacred texts, a shared thread that connects Jews around the world, and the national language of the State of Israel, the homeland of the Jewish people.
Torah
The Torah is the central text of Jewish tradition and the foundation of Jewish learning. It guides our values, shapes our rituals, and connects generations through its stories, teachings, and wisdom. The Torah is a source of inspiration and identity for Jews around the world.
Israel
Israel holds a central place in Jewish history, culture, and identity. It is the birthplace of the Jewish people, a modern homeland rooted in ancient tradition, and a source of connection and inspiration for Jews around the world. Israel’s story continues to shape Jewish life today.
Connect
Tziporah (Tzipi) Altman-Shafer is the Vice President of Jewish Communal Life and Learning. She is responsible for overseeing the Israel Center. She works with lay leaders in determining all Israel and Overseas allocations for Federation. Her responsibilities include directing the Coalition for Jewish Learning, providing support to all our local Jewish schools and educators, and overseeing the Planning Department, which is responsible for all local allocations.
Tzipi grew up in Milwaukee and has been working in Jewish Education since 1987. She has a bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies and Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Cleveland College of Jewish Studies. Before coming to MJF in 2015, she worked at summer camps, supplementary schools, and day schools (including six schools in Milwaukee). She has been a teacher, a family educator, and director of education and worked with children of all ages.
At the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Nicole Boico partners closely with colleagues, educators, and community leaders to strengthen Jewish education across the Milwaukee community. In her role as Associate Director of the Coalition for Jewish Learning, she contributes to shaping educational strategy, supporting partner agencies, and leading initiatives that empower and uplift educators, including professional development, teacher mentoring, and community recognition programs such as the Salute to Jewish Educators. Drawing on over 15 years of combined experience in Jewish education and special education, Nicole is especially committed to helping schools create inclusive learning environments that meet the needs of all learners and reflect Jewish values.
Outside of work, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband, Ilan, and their three children, Mila, Moses, and Asher. She loves traveling, shopping, singing karaoke, and curling up with a good book.
AS ONE
Engaging through culture & history
As One, we bring Jewish history and culture to life for the next generation. Through the Jewish Museum Milwaukee and the Holocaust Education Resource Center, we engage youth with powerful stories, meaningful experiences, and critical lessons that deepen understanding, build empathy, and inspire them to carry Jewish memory and values forward.