Major holidays
Holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified.
Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal “work” is forbidden.
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashana |
Sep 30 & |
The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Oct 9, 2019 |
Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 14 & 15, 2019 Oct 16-20, 2019 |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 21, 2019 | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 22, 2019 | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 23-30, 2019 | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Mar 10, 2020 | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Apr 9-10, 2020 Apr 11-14, 2020 Apr 15-16, 2020 |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai | |
| Tish’a B’Av | Jul 30, 2020 | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Feb 10, 2020 | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years | |
| Shushan Purim | Mar 11, 2020 | Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities |
| Days of the Omer | Apr 9-May 28, 2020 | 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the day before Shavuot |
| Pesach Sheni | May 8, 2020 | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag BaOmer | May 12, 2020 | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
| Leil Selichot | Sep 12, 2020 | Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays |
| Tu B’Av | Aug 5, 2020 | Jewish holiday of love, similar to Valentine’s Day |
Minor fasts
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Oct 2, 2019 | Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah |
| Asara B’Tevet | Jan 7, 2020 | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta’anit Esther | Mar 9, 2020 | Fast of Esther |
| Ta’anit Bechorot | Apr 8, 2020 | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 9, 2020 | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | Apr 21, 2020 | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | Israeli Memorial Day | |
| Yom HaAtzma’ut | Israeli Independence Day | |
| Yom Yerushalayim | Jerusalem Day | |
| Yom HaAliyah | Nov 5, 2019 | Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel |
| Sigd | Nov 27, 2019 | Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Oct 5, 2019 | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar | |
| Shabbat Zachor | Shabbat before Purim | |
| Shabbat Parah | Shabbat of the Red Heifer | |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan | |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Shabbat before Pesach | |
| Shabbat Chazon | Shabbat before Tish’a B’Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) | |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Shabbat after Tish’a B’Av (Shabbat of Consolation) | |
| Shabbat Rosh Chodesh | When Shabbat falls on Rosh Chodesh | |
| Shabbat Machar Chodesh | When Shabbat falls the day before Rosh Chodesh |
Rosh Chodesh
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Oct 29, 2019 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 28, 2019 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 29, 2019 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat | Jan 27, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh’vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 25, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) | |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Mar 26, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar | |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan | |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz | |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av | |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |