Jewish Calendar  

Shabbat From Friday Sundown To Saturday Night Every Week of the Year Shabbat is one of the foundations, if not the foundation, of Jewish life. Its observance has protected and inspired the Jew throughout history and has influenced, in some degree or another, all of civilization. It is based on two fundamental premises:

1. G-d created the world in six "days" and "rested" on the seventh "day."
2. G-d intervened in history to take the Jewish People out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

All else of Shabbat law; perhaps, in a sense, all of Torah law as well, and an understanding of the Jewish soul, follow from the above premises. Pearl & Harold M. Jacobs Learning Center for the Weekly Day of Rest Work Restrictions: Thirty-nine Biblical categories of "melachah" very loosely defined as "work," and Rabbinical extensions

Tu B'Shevat 15 Shevat Jewish Arbor Day. Celebration of new fruits and the land of Israel. No eulogies or daily prayers of mourning said. Some add special services. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Fast of Esther 11 Adar*** Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the fast of Queen Esther in order to save the Jewish people of ancient Persia (Late 6th century B.C.E.), and the subsequent victory of the Jewish people over their enemies. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Purim 14 Adar Commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people in ancient Persia (Late 6th century B.C.E.). Celebrated with feasts, special prayers, the reading of the Book of Esther, the sending of gifts from friend to friend, and extra charity. Work Restrictions: Limited restrictions on work. Shushan Purim 15 Adar Purim in cities surrounded by walls from the days of Joshua such as Jerusalem - see inside for details. Work Restrictions: Limited restrictions on work.

Rosh Chodesh Nisan The first commandment given by G-d to the Jewish People was to establish the beginning of the Month of Nisan (which wasn't yet called "Nisan," but, rather, the First Month). Until now, the Calendar was, so to speak, in G-d's hands. From this point on, the Hebrew Calendar was placed in the hands of the Jewish People.

Chodesh Nisan, The Month of Nisan "Hashem said to Moshe and Aharon in the Land of Egypt, 'This month shall be for you the beginning of the months; it shall be for you the first of the months of the year.' " (Shemot, 12:1-2)

Nisan is the Month of Redemption, because it is the month in which the Exodus took place around 3,300 B.C.E., at which time the Jewish People were redeemed from Slavery in Egypt. This event, in which the Bible records (Shemot, Chapters 1-15) G-d's intervention in human history in behalf of the oppressed Children of Israel, constituted the physical birth of the Jewish Nation.

Passover 15-21 Nisan (15-22 in Diaspora) Commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish people from ancient Egypt. Special dietary restrictions beginning the morning of the previous day. No foods containing fermented grain products - Chametz - may be consumed or found in any Jewish household. Special family meal - the "Seder" - conducted during the first evening in Israel and the first 2 evenings in the Diaspora. Memorial (Yizkor) services are said on 7th day in Israel, 8th day in the Diaspora.  Work Restrictions: Israel: Sabbath like restrictions on the first and last days (15 & 21 Nisan). Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days. Diaspora: Sabbath like restrictions on the first 2 and last 2 days (15&16 & 21&22 Nisan). Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days.

Yom HaShoah 27 Nisan Holocaust Memorial Day - Special memorial prayers are said. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Yom HaZikaron Lechalalei Ma'arachot Yisrael 4 Iyar Israel Defense Forces Memorial Day - Special memorial prayers are said. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work. Yom HaAtzmaut 5 Iyar Israel Independence Day. Many add special thanksgiving prayers and celebratory feast. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work. Lag BaOmer 18 Iyar Break in the mourning period for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (2nd century). Only day in 49-day period when weddings permitted. No special services. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Yom Yerushalayim 28 Iyar Jerusalem Reunification Day. Many add special thanksgiving prayers and celebratory feast. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Rosh Chodesh Sivan 1 Sivan "In the third month after the Exodus of the Jewish People from Egypt, on that very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai" (Shemot 19:1) Jewish Tradition says that "that very day" refers to Rosh Chodesh Sivan. This Rosh Chodesh always consists of just one day because Iyar, the preceding month, is always categorized, calendar-wise, as "missing;" that is, it consists of just twenty-nine days. Sivan itself, however, is always "full;" that is, it always consists of the full complement of thirty days.

Chodesh Sivan 1 Sivan - 30 Sivan This month has the great privilege of being the month in which the People of Israel received the Torah at the foot of Mount Sinai, perhaps the greatest event in the History of the Jewish People and of World History, which is commemorated on the Festival of Shavuot, the "Day of the Giving of the Torah."

Shavuot 6 Sivan - Israel (6 & 7 In Diaspora) Moses Receives The Torah (Pentecost) - Celebrating G-d's giving of the Torah and Ten Commandments to the Jews at Mt. Sinai. Memorial (Yizkor) services said (on 2nd day in diaspora). Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like work restrictions one day in Israel - two days in diaspora.

Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 30 Sivan - 1 Tammuz Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is always two days, because the preceding month, Sivan, is always "malei," or "full;" that is, always contains 30 days. The first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is the 30th day of Sivan, and the second day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is the first of Tammuz.

Chodesh Tammuz 1 Tammuz - 29 Tammuz This month is always "chaser," or "diminished;" that is, it always contains only 29 days. Therefore, the Rosh Chodesh of the following month, Av, is just one day, the first of Av.

This month, Tammuz, followed by Av, contain the three week period known as "Bein Ha-Metzarim,"  "in the straits" of trouble between the Jewish People and G-d. Many tragedies occurred in this month, which led to still greater tragedies in the next month. But our hope and belief is that ultimately, this time will become a time of joy and redemption for the Jewish People.

Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz 17 Tammuz Fast Day Lamenting Breach of Jerusalem Walls - Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the besieging ancient Romans (Ist century C.E.). Start of 3 week period during which weddings and celebrations are forbidden. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Rosh Chodesh Av 1 Av Rosh Chodesh Av is always just one day, because the preceding month, Tammuz, is always "chaser," diminished; that is, it only contains twenty nine days. The month of Av, on the other hand, is always "malei," full; that is, it always contains thirty days.

Chodesh Av 1 Av - 30 Av "Chodesh Av," the Month of Av, contains the saddest day in the Hebrew Calendar, the Ninth of Av, a day on which too many tragedies have befallen our People for it just to be an accident. In Megillat Eichah, the Prophet Jeremiah's lamentation over the destruction of Jerusalem, its Temple and its People, this day is called a "Moed" in the sense of a day marked for tragedy.

We pray that, in our time of blossoming religious life in the Land of Israel and around the world, we are living in the time that "Tisha B'Av" will become a "Moed," a "joyous festival," in the classic, joyful sense of the word, and we will shortly see the fulfillment of the verse "They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Eichah 3:23)

Fast of Tisha B'Av 9 Av Fast Day Lamenting Destruction of Temples - Fast begins prior to sunset of the previous day and concludes after sunset of the date indicated above.  Anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, and other Jewish tragedies. Climax of three week mourning period and, within those weeks, of a more intense nine-day mourning period. Special mourning customs and prayers. Work Restrictions: Limited restrictions work through mid-day.

Rosh Chodesh Elul The month of repentance and personal reflection

Rosh HaShanah 5764 1-2 Tishrei The Jewish New Year Day of Judgment for the entire world. Extended, special synagogue services and blowing of the ram's horn - Shofar. Start of Ten Days of Repentance. Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions on work both days in both Israel and the diaspora.

Tzom Gedaliah 3 Tishrei Fast Day Lamenting The Expulsion From Israel; Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the assassination of Gedalya Ben Achikam, and the true start of Babylonian exile of the Jewish people (Early 6th century B.C.E.) Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Yom Kippur 10 Tishrei The Day of Atonement - Fast day, beginning prior to sunset on the previous day (September 15, 2002). Day-long synagogue services, with many special prayers, including Kol Nidre, N'eela, and Memorial (Yizkor) services. Work Restrictions:  All Sabbath-like work restrictions, with no exceptions for cooking etc. as on Sukkot, Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Passover and Shavuot, where exceptions are made for food preparation and carrying. In addition, there are special restrictions against washing, applying oils, etc. to oneself, marital relations and wearing leather shoes.

Sukkot 15-20 Tishrei The Tabernacles - Commemorates the Jewish people's wanderings in the desert. All meals must be eaten in special temporary hut - the "Sukkah" Rituals with four species of plants - Lulav and Etrog - culminating with special services on the seventh day - Hoshana Rabah. Work Restrictions: Israel: Sabbath-like restrictions on the first day. Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days. Diaspora: Sabbath like restrictions on the first 2 days. Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days.

Hoshanah Rabah 21 Tishrei The seventh and last day of Sukkot - culminates the observation of the Days of Awe as the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashanah. Additional prayers and quests for repentance as on Yom Kippur are said in synagogue. Work Restrictions: Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited.

Shmini Atzeret 22 Tishrei The Eighth Day of Assembly - culminates the celebration of renewal and thanksgiving and invokes our anticipation of the Messianic Age. Memorial (Yizkor) services are said in syngogue. Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions. Simchat Torah Israel: 22 Tishrei Diaspora: 23 Tishrei Rejoicing of The Torah - Special celebration of closing of the High Holidays season. Cycle of Biblical readings in synagogue completed and begun again in joyous celebration and festivity. Combined with Shmini Atzeret in Israel into one day, celebrated as second of two consecutive days in the Diaspora. Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions.

Chanukah 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet The Holiday Of Lights - Celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem to holy service by the Maccabees after their successful struggle for independence and religious freedom against the Syrians (2nd century B.C.E.). Commemorated by lighting candles during each night. Work Restrictions: Tradition limits work only during the time that the Chanukah candles are lit.

Rosh Chodesh Tevet A Month of Anguish - On the 10th - Asara BeTevet - Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (7th century B.C.E.). Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.

Asarah B'Tevet Fast day that begins at first morning light and ends at dusk. Commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (Early 6th century B.C.E.). In the modern State of Israel, Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the deceased) is recited on this day for people whose date or place of death is unknown. Consequently, many rabbis have designated it as a day of remembrance for the Holocaust. Work Restrictions: No restrictions on work.