Jewish Holidays 2018-2019
All holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified in the tables below. For example, if the dates for Rosh Hashana were listed as –, then the holiday begins at sundown on Sep 9 and ends at nightfall on Sep 11.
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 | –, 2018 M‑Tu | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | W | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | –, 2018 M‑Tu –, 2018 W‑Su |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | M | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Tu | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | –, 2018 M‑M | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Th | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | –, 2019 Sa‑Su –, 2019 M‑Th –, 2019 F‑Sa |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | –, 2019 Su‑M | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish’a B’Av | Su | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | M | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Tu | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years |
| Shushan Purim | F | Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities |
| Days of the Omer | 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the day before Shavuot | |
| Pesach Sheni | Su | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag BaOmer | Th | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
| Tu B’Av | F | Jewish holiday of love, similar to Valentine’s Day |
| Leil Selichot | Sep 21, 2019 Sa | Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays |
Minor fasts
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Sep 12, 2018 W | Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah |
| Asara B’Tevet | Dec 18, 2018 Tu | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta’anit Esther | Mar 20, 2019 W | Fast of Esther |
| Ta’anit Bechorot | Apr 19, 2019 F | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 21, 2019 Su | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | Th | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | W | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma’ut | Th | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | Su | Jerusalem Day |
| Yom HaAliyah | Tu | Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel |
| Sigd | W | Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Sa | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Sa | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Sa | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Sa | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Sa | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Sa | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Sa | Shabbat before Tish’a B’Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Sa | 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 | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Th | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Sa | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat | M | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh’vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Th | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Sa | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Su | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | W | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | F | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Sa | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |