Jewish Holidays 2019-2020
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-Oct 1 M‑Tu | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Oct 9, 2019 W | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 14-15, 2019 M‑Tu Oct 16-20, 2019 W‑Su |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 21, 2019 M | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 22, 2019 Tu | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 23-30, 2019 M‑M | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Mar 10, 2020 Tu | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Apr 9-10, 2020 Th‑F Apr 11-14, 2020 Sa‑Tu Apr 15-16, 2020 W‑Th |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | May 29-30, 2020 F‑Sa | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish’a B’Av | Jul 30, 2020 Th | 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 |
Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal “work” is forbidden.