1. Shabbat is the 7th day of the week.
2. There are 7 weeks in the counting of the Omer before
Shavuot. (Leviticus 23:15)
3. In Israel, there are 7 days of Passover and Sukkot.
(Leviticus 23:6, 34)
4. Every 7th year, the land lays fallow during Shmita
(Sabbatical year). (Leviticus 25:4)
5. After 7 cycles of Shmita, we have a Jubilee year (Yovel).
(Leviticus 25:8)
6. When a close relative dies, we sit Shiva for 7 days.
7. On Sukkot we shake 7 species – 1 Lulav, 1 Esrog, 2 willows,
and 3 myrtles.
8. Yitro, the first real convert to Judaism, had 7 different
names, and 7 daughters (one who married Moses).
9. Moses was born and died on the same day – the 7th of Adar.
10. Our Sukkah huts are “visited” by 7 guests – Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.
11. The Menorah in the Temple had 7 branches.
12. Achashvarosh, King of Persia during the miracle of Purim,
held a party for 7 days. (Esther 1:5)
13. There are 7 holidays in the Jewish year: Rosh Hashana, Yom
Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot.
14. In addition to the 613 Commandments, the Sages added 7
more.
15. There are 7 Noachide Laws pertaining to all humanity.
16. At every Jewish wedding, 7 blessings are recited (Sheva
Brachot).
17. Each Shabbat, 7 people are called to the Torah reading
(Aliyot).
18. The first verse in the Torah contains 7 words (and 28
letters).
19. Our Matriarch Leah had 7 children – six sons and one
daughter.
20. There were 7 days of preparation for the construction of
the Tabernacle in the desert. (Leviticus 8:35)
21. Traditionally, the bride circles the groom 7 times under
the Chuppah (wedding canopy).
22. We wind the Tefillin straps around the arm 7 times.
23. Moses was the 7th generation after Abraham.
24. Each plague in Egypt lasted 7 days.
25. In Pharaoh’s dreams there were 7 cows and 7 stalks of
grain. (Genesis 41)
26. The Biblical contamination period typically lasts 7 days.
(Leviticus 13:4)
27. God created 7 levels of heaven. (Hence the expression, “I’m
in 7th heaven!”)
28. On Shabbat and holidays, we recite 7 blessings in the
silent Amidah.
29. There are 7 special species of produce by which the Land of
Israel is praised: wheat, barley, grapes, pomegranates, figs,
olives, and dates. (Deut. 8:8)
30. The world has 7 continents.
31. The 7 weeks of the Omer correspond to the 7 “sefirot,” the
7 behavior traits in which we serve God: kindness, strength,
beauty, triumph, splendor, foundation, and kingship.
32. Noah sent the dove and the raven out of the Ark for 7 days
to inspect the weather conditions. (Genesis 8:10)
33. 7 nations warred with Israel: Canaanites, Hittites,
Hivites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites.
34. On Yom Kippur, the High Priest sprinkled the blood in the
Temple 7 times. (Leviticus 16)
35. The Jewish New Year of Rosh Hashana occurs, surprisingly,
in the 7th month — Tishrei. (Leviticus 23:24)
36. The Jewish calendar, largely lunar, has a cycle of
intercalation that contains 7 leap years during each 19-year
period.
37. There are 7 notes on the musical scale.
38. A Kohen (priest) should participate in the burial of 7
relatives: father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, and
spouse. (Leviticus 21:2)
39. We dance 7 circles (hakafot) on the holiday of Simchat
Torah.
40. The smallest allowable dimension of a Sukkah is 7 by 7
handbreadths.
41. The world has 7 seas.
42. Joshua led the Jewish People around the walls of Jericho 7
times before the walls fell. (Joshua 6:15)
43. Jacob worked for Laban for 7 years (twice) in order to
marry his daughters. (Genesis 29:27)
44. The Holy Temple contained 7 gates of entry.
45. We recite 7 blessings every day before and after the
“Shema” — 3 in the morning and 4 at night.
46. The Talmud lists 7 female prophets: Sarah, Miriam, Deborah,
Hannah, Avigail, Chuldah, and Esther.
47. A Jewish servant regains freedom in the 7th year. (Exodus
21:2)
48. We conclude our Yom Kippur prayers by proclaiming7 times,
“The Lord is God!”
49. A Jewish wedding is followed by 7 days of celebration
(Sheva Brachot).
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com