Holiday Books?

[Clear Blue Sky]

I was reading a book on the history of the bible being written. It talked about part of the Old Testament (tanuch?) being called "the writings" and said that some of the writings books were Holiday Books to be read at certain Jewish Holidays.

As I recall it listed Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes and Lamentations.

I have a vague understanding of Esther for Purim, and Ruth for some kind of harvest festival....

What are the Holidays attributed to Ecclesiastes and Lamentations?

(Is Lam. the 3-day summer fast about the temple?)

[RabbiO]

Originally Posted by Clear Blue Sky

I was reading a book on the history of the bible being written. It talked about part of the Old Testament (tanuch?) being called "the writings" and said that some of the writings books were Holiday Books to be read at certain Jewish Holidays.

As I recall it listed Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes and Lamentations.

I have a vague understanding of Esther for Purim, and Ruth for some kind of harvest festival....

What are the Holidays attributed to Ecclesiastes and Lamentations?

(Is Lam. the 3-day summer fast about the temple?)

Jewish scripture is divided into three parts-
Torah, which translated is Instruction/Teaching;
Nevi'im, which translated is Prophets; and
Ketuvim, which translates as Writings.

One of the ways in which Jewish scripture is called is Tanakh/Tanach which is an anagram of Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim.

Among the Writings are the Chamesh Megillot, Five Scrolls -
Esther - read on Purim;
Ruth - read on Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks;
Lamentations - read on Tisha B'Av, the 9th day of the month of Av, the day on which both the First and Second Temples were destroyed;
Ecclesiastes - read on Sukkot;
Song of Songs - read on the Shabbat of Pesach/Passover and by many at the seder of Pesach.

L'shalom,

Peter

[Clear Blue Sky]

Thank you for your informative response. :)