FIVE-YEAR CALENDAR OF MAJOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS This calendar can assist schools as they schedule exams, field trips, sporting events, graduations, etc. Other organizations and the media might find it helpful as well. An explanation of each holiday follows on the second page. Holidays begin the evening before because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. Secular/School Year 2018–2019 2019–2020 2020–2021 2021–2022 2022–2023 Jewish Year 5779 5780 5781 5782 5783 Erev (eve of) Sun / Sep 9 Fri / Sep 18 Mon/ Sep 6 Sun/ Sep 25 Rosh Hashanah * Sun / Sep 29 Mon–Tue Mon–Sat Sat–Sun Tue–Wed Mon–Tues Rosh Hashanah * Sep 10–11 Sep 30 – Oct 1 Sept 19 – 20 Sept 7–8 Sept 26–27 Erev (eve of) Tue / Sep 18 Tue / Oct 8 Sun / Sept 27 Wed / Sept 15 Tue / Oct 4 Yom Kippur * Yom Kippur * Wed / Sep 19 Wed / Oct 9 Mon / Sept 28 Thu / Sept 16 Wed / Oct 5 Mon–Sun Mon–Sun Sat–Fri Tue–Mon Mon–Sun Sukkot * Sep 24–30 Oct 14 – 20 Oct 3 – 9 Sept 21 – 27 Oct 10 – 16 Shemini Atzeret * Mon / Oct 1 Mon / Oct 21 Sat / Oct 10 Tue / Sept 28 Mon / Oct 17 Simchat Torah * Tue / Oct 2 Tue / Oct 22 Sun / Oct 11 Wed / Sept 29 Tue / Oct 18 Mon–Mon Sun–Mon Fri–Fri Mon–Mon Mon–Mon Hanukkah Dec 3– 10 Dec 23 – 30 Dec 11 – 18 Nov 29 – Dec 6 Dec 19 – Dec 26 Tu B’Shevat Mon / Jan 21 Mon / Feb 10 Thu / Jan 28 Mon / Jan 17 Mon / Feb 6 Purim Thu / Mar 21 Tue / Mar 10 Fri / Feb 26 Thu / Mar 17 Tue / Mar 7 First night of Fri / Apr 19 Wed / Apr 8 Sat / Mar 27 Fri / Apr 15 Wed / Apr 5 Passover * Sat–Sat Thu–Thu Sun–Sun Sat–Sat Thu–Thu Passover* Apr 20–27 Apr 9 – 16 Mar 28 – Apr 4 Apr 16 - 23 Apr 6 - 13 Tue–Wed Fri–Sat Mon–Tues Sun–Mon Fri–Sat Shavuot * Jun 9 – 10 May 29 – 30 May 17 – 18 Jun 5 - 6 May 26 - 27 Tisha B’Av Sun / Aug 11 Thu / Jul 30 Sun / Jul 18 Sun / Aug 7 Thu / Jul 27 *Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. On these days and on the Sabbath (Friday evening through Saturday evening), work is traditionally prohibited; individuals may be absent from school or work. Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati 8499 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 • (513) 985 -2960 • [email protected] Please share freely. PDF available at jewishcincinnati.org/jewish-holidays EXPLANATION OF MAJOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS Holidays begin the evening before because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. Rosh Hashanah* Traditions include eating apples dipped in honey and blowing the shofar (ram’s horn). (Jewish New Year) Most Jews attend synagogue on these two days and the preceding evening. Considered by Jews to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year. Fasting Yom Kippur* begins at sundown and ends after nightfall the following day. Most Jews attend (Day of Atonement) synagogue on this day and the preceding evening. Sukkot* A seven-day festival. One of the three pilgrimage festivals mentioned in the Bible. (Feast of Tabernacles Celebrated by the building of a sukkah, or temporary dwelling, outdoors. Work is or Booths) traditionally prohibited on the 1st and 2nd days. Shemini Atzeret* Immediately follows the conclusion of Sukkot. Work is traditionally prohibited. (Eighth day of Sukkot) Concludes and begins anew the annual reading cycle of the Torah, the Five Books of Simchat Torah* Moses that make up the Jewish Bible. Immediately follows Sukkot and Shemini (Rejoicing of the Law) Atzeret. Work is traditionally prohibited. An eight-day festival marked by the lighting of candles—one the 1st night, two the Hanukkah 2nd, etc.—using a special candle holder called a menorah or chanukiah. Traditions (Festival of Lights) include spinning dreidels (tops), eating potato latkes (pancakes), and giving gifts. Tu B’Shevat Celebrated as an ecological awareness day. Trees are often planted. (New Year of the Trees) Commemorates the events in the Book of Esther. One of the most joyous holidays. Purim Traditions include wearing costumes and giving care packages to those in need. Commemorates the liberation of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. A feast called a seder Passover* is held on the 1st two nights of the eight-day holiday. Leavened food (e.g., bread, (Pesach) cake) and most grain products are not eaten. Matzah (unleavened bread) is often eaten instead. Work is traditionally prohibited on the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th days. Shavuot* According to Rabbinic tradition, the Ten Commandments were given on this day. It is (Feast of Weeks, Pentecost) traditional to eat meals containing dairy. Annual fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Tisha B’Av Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jews from the land of Israel. *Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. On these days and on the Sabbath (Friday evening through Saturday evening), work is traditionally prohibited; individuals may be absent from school or work. Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati 8499 Ridge Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236 • (513) 985-2960 • jcongedo@jfedcin .or g Please share freely. PDF available at jewishcincinnati.org/jewish-holidays .