Jewish Holidays
Discover the dates, meaning, and traditions of the Jewish holidays. Find out when each holiday falls and learn about its significance.
ראש השנה
Rosh Hashanah
Friday, September 11
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time of spiritual renewal and reflection. It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur. The holiday celebrates the creation of the world and is a time for introspection, prayer, and connecting with God.
יום כיפור
Yom Kippur
Sunday, September 20
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a 25-hour period of fasting, prayer, and repentance, concluding the Ten Days of Repentance that began on Rosh Hashanah. Jews seek forgiveness from God and from those they have wronged.
פסח
Passover
Wednesday, April 1
Passover (Pesach) commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals and is celebrated with the Seder meal, the telling of the Exodus story, and the eating of matzah (unleavened bread) for seven or eight days.
חנוכה
Chanukah
Friday, December 4
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean victory over the Seleucid Empire. The eight-day festival commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when there was only enough for one.
פורים
Purim
Monday, March 2
Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman's plot to destroy them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. The joyous holiday is celebrated with reading the Megillah, giving gifts, charity to the poor, and a festive meal.
סוכות
Sukkot
Friday, September 25
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is a seven-day harvest festival commemorating the Israelites' 40-year journey in the desert when they lived in temporary shelters. Jews build and dwell in a sukkah (temporary hut) and wave the Four Species (lulav, etrog, hadassim, and aravot).
שבועות
Shavuot
Thursday, May 21
Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It falls exactly 49 days (seven weeks) after Passover, marking the culmination of the Omer counting period. The holiday celebrates both the wheat harvest and the spiritual harvest of receiving God's teachings.
Looking for Holiday Prayers?
Am Hazak provides complete prayers and blessings for all Jewish holidays in Hebrew with English translations.
Browse Holiday PrayersAbout the Jewish Calendar
The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it's based on both the moon's cycles and the solar year. Jewish holidays fall on specific dates in the Hebrew calendar, which means their Gregorian dates vary from year to year.
All Jewish holidays begin at sunset the evening before the date listed and end at nightfall on the final day. In the diaspora (outside Israel), some holidays are observed for an additional day.