Holidays

Jewish Holidays 2021-2022

Dates of major and minor Jewish holidays as observed in the Diaspora. Each holiday page includes a brief overview of special observances and customs, and any special Torah readings.

Except for minor fasts, holidays begin at sundown on the first date specified and end at nightfall on the last date specified. For example, if the dates for Rosh Hashana are listed as –, then the holiday begins at sundown on Sep 6 and ends at nightfall on Sep 8.

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

Minor holidays

Holiday Dates Description
Tu BiShvat ‑ Su‑M New Year for Trees
Shushan Purim ‑ Th‑F Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities
Pesach Sheni ‑ Sa‑Su Second Passover, one month after Passover
Lag BaOmer ‑ W‑Th 33rd day of counting the Omer
Tu B’Av ‑ Th‑F Minor Jewish holiday of love
Leil Selichot Sep 17 Sat Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays
Rosh Hashana LaBehemot ‑ Sa‑Su New year for Tithing animals
Purim Katan ‑ M‑Tu      Purim Celebration during Adar 1 on leap years 

Minor fasts

Holiday Dates Description
Tzom Gedaliah Sep 9 Th 2022 Fast of the Seventh Month
Asara B’Tevet Dec 14 Tu 2022 Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem
Ta’anit Esther Mar 16 W 2022 Th Fast of Esther
Ta’anit Bechorot Apr 15 F, 2022 Fast of the First Born
Tzom Tammuz Jul 17 Su 2022 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