Suk- kot , the festival of the harvest, commemorates the Israelites' wilder- ness wanderings and culminates with Simhat Torah on October 18. In Muslim areas, most businesses close on Friday, the day of prayer. On holi- days, they may close during the afternoon, but are generally open in the morning. Holiday dates are difficult to pin down ahead of time, as Islamic holidays are based on a lunar calendar and projected dates may vary even over the course of the holi- day. Eid al-Adha commemorates Abraham's intended sacrifice of his son Ishmael and coincides with the hajj to Mecca, the fifth pillar of Islam is the Islamic New Year's Day, and Mawlid al- Nabi celebrates Muhammad's birthday. The most important event and the one most likely to complicate travel is Ramadan , the annual month-long fast during which Muslims abstain from food and drink, dawn to sun- set. During this time, most restaurants close up shop until sundown. Shops may open for a few hours in the morning and a short time after iftar, the breaking of the fast; government services are either closed entirely or open only in the morn- ing. It would be rude to smoke or eat in public at this time. The celebratory, three- day Eid al-Fitr feast marks the end of Ramadan. Secular Israeli holidays in 2003 include Yom Ha-Sho'ah , Yom Ha-Zikaron , and Yom Ha-Atzma'ut . On both Yom Ha-Sho'ah and Yom Ha-Zikaron, sirens signal moments of silence. HOLIDAYS 2003 DATE HOLIDAY AFFILIATION j Feb. 12 Eid al-Adha Islamic Mar. 5 Islamic New Year Islamic Mar. 14 Ashoura Islamic Mar. 18 Purim Jewish Apr. 17-23 Passover Jewish Apr. 18 Good Friday Christian Apr. 20 Easter Christian Apr. 29 Yom Ha-Shoah Israeli May 6 Yom Ha-Zikaron Israeli May 7 Yom Ha-Atzma'ut Israeli May 14 Eid Mawlid al-Nabi Islamic May 30 Yom Yerushalayim Israeli June 6 Shavuot Jewish June 8 Pentecost Christian Aug. 7 Ninth of Av Jewish Aug. 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary Christian Sept. 27-28 Rosh Ha-Shanah Jewish Oct. 8 Yom Kippur Jewish Oct. 11-17 Sukkot Jewish Oct. 18 Simhat Torah Jewish Sept. 24 Lailat al Miraj Islamic Oct. 27 to Nov. 26 Ramadan Islamic Nov. 26-28 Eid al Fitr Islamic Nov. 30 to Dec. 7 Hanukkah Jewish Dec. 25 Christmas Christian A History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, by Howard M. Sachar . As the title suggests, this book guides the reader through Israel's modern his- tory, from mid-century Zionism to current regional diplomacy. Israel: A History, by Martin Gilbert . The author extensively chronicles the story of Israel, both trials and tribulations, during the 20th century. CURRENT EVENTS Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Mitchell Geoffrey Bard . Presents common myths about the conflict and then offers evidence to refute them. This is a somewhat pro-Israeli perspective. Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Charles D. Smith .