Holidays

Jewish Holidays 2020-2021

Dates of major and minor Jewish holidays. Each holiday page includes a brief overview of special observances and customs, and any special Torah readings.
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 Sep 19-20, then the holiday begins at sundown on Sep 18 and ends at nightfall on Sep 20.

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 ‑, 2020 Sa‑Su The Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur  M Day of Atonement
Sukkot ‑, 2020 Sa‑Su
‑, 2020 M‑F		 Feast of Booths
Shmini Atzeret  Sa Eighth Day of Assembly
Simchat Torah  Su Day of Celebrating the Torah
Chanukah ‑, 2020 F‑F Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication
Purim  F Celebration of Jewish deliverance as told by Megilat Esther
Pesach ‑, 2021 Su‑M
‑, 2021 Tu‑F
‑, 2021 Sa‑Su		 Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Shavuot ‑, 2021 M‑Tu Festival of Weeks
Tish’a B’Av  Su The Ninth of Av

Minor holidays

Holiday Dates Description
Tu BiShvat  Th New Year for Trees
Shushan Purim  Su Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities
Pesach Sheni  M Second Passover, one month after Passover
Lag BaOmer  F 33rd day of counting the Omer
Tu B’Av  Sa Minor Jewish holiday of love
Leil Selichot Aug 28, 2021 Sa Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays

Minor fasts

Holiday Dates Description
Tzom Gedaliah Sep 21, 2020 M Fast of the Seventh Month
Asara B’Tevet Dec 25, 2020 F Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem
Ta’anit Esther Feb 25, 2021 Th Fast of Esther
Ta’anit Bechorot Mar 25, 2021 Th Fast of the First Born
Tzom Tammuz Jun 27, 2021 Su Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple

Modern holidays

Holiday Dates Description
Yom HaAliyah  Su Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel
Sigd  M Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur
Yom HaShoah  Th Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom HaZikaron  W Israeli Memorial Day
Yom HaAtzma’ut  Th Israeli Independence Day
Yom Yerushalayim  M Jerusalem Day

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)

Rosh Chodesh

Holiday Dates Description
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan  Su Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan
Rosh Chodesh Kislev  Tu Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Tevet  W Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet
Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat  Th Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh’vat
Rosh Chodesh Adar  F Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar
Rosh Chodesh Nisan  Su Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar  M Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar
Rosh Chodesh Sivan  W Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan
Rosh Chodesh Tamuz  Th Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz
Rosh Chodesh Av  Sa Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av
Rosh Chodesh Elul  Su Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul