Festivals
Chagim-חגים
Purim - פורים
Begins sunset of Saturday, February 28, 2018
Ends nightfall of Sunday, February 28, 2018Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia.
Passover - פסח
Begins sunset of March 30, 2018
Ends nightfall of Tuesday, April 7, 2018Passover (Pesach) celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt
Shavout - שבועות
Begins sunset of Tuesday, May 19, 2018
Ends nightfall of Thursday, May 21, 2018Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The Ten Commandments are read in synagogues, just as they were in the desert on Mt. Sinai over 3,300 years ago.
Tish'a B'Av- תשע באב
Begins sunset of July 21, 2018
Ends nightfall of July 22, 2018Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The Ten Commandments are read in synagogues, just as they were in the desert on Mt. Sinai over 3,300 years ago.
Rosh Hashanah - ראש השנה
Begins sunset of Wednesday, September 9, 2018
Ends nightfall of Friday, September 11, 2018Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of Gd as king.
Yom Kippur - יום כפור
Begins sunset of Friday, September 18, 2018
Ends nightfall of Saturday, September 19, 2018Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year—the day on which we are closest to Gd and to the quintessence of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement—“For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before Gd” (Leviticus 16:30).
For nearly twenty-six hours—from several minutes before sunset on 9 Tishrei to after nightfall on 10 Tishrei—we “afflict our souls”: we abstain from food and drink, do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.
Sukkot - סוכות
Begins sunset of Wednesday, September 23, 2018
Ends nightfall of Sunday, September 30, 2018In honor of the holiday's historical significance, we are commanded to dwell in temporary shelters, as our ancestors did in the wilderness. The temporary shelter is referred to as a sukkah.
Simchat Torah - שימחת תורה
Begins sunset of Wednesday, October 1, 2018
Ends nightfall of Friday, October 2, 2018Tishri 22, the day after the seventh day of Sukkot, is the holiday Shemini Atzeret.
In Israel, Shemini Atzeret is also the holiday of Simchat Torah. Outside of Israel, where extra days of holidays are held, only the second day of Shemini Atzeret is Simchat Torah: Shemini Atzeret is Tishri 22 and 23, while Simchat Torah is Tishri 23.
Hanukah - חנוכה
Begins sunset of Tuesday, December 2, 2018
Ends nightfall of Wednesday, December 10, 2018Hanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying mighty Greek armies.
Tu b'shvat - טו בשבת
Wednesday, January 20, 2019
The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees.
