Jewish Holidays & Observances
5771 (2010/2011)
All Jewish holidays begin at sundown
on the evening before the date shown.
Rosh
HaShanah - Sep 9-10, 2010
Tishrei 1-2
- The Jewish New Year. Marks the beginning of ten days of repentance culminating
with Yom Kippur.
Fast of Gedaliah - Sep 12, 2010
Tishrei 3 - Commemorates the assassination of Gedalya Ben Achikam and
start of Babylonian exile of the Jewish people (Early 6th century B.C.E.)
Yom Kippur - Sep 18, 2010
Tishrei 10 - The Day of Atonement.
Sukkot - Sep 23, 2010
Tishrei 15 - Sukkot commemorates the forty years of wandering
of the People of Israel in the desert after the exodus from Egypt. In
memory Jewish people are commanded to build and live in temporary dwellings
for seven days (Leviticus 23:33).
Simhat Torah - Sep 30, 2010
Tishrei 22 - Simhat Torah (Joy of Torah) marks the
completion of the annual reading of the Torah. The concluding
section of Torah is read followed by the reading of the first
section of Genesis, symbolizing the continuing annual cycle
of weekly Torah reading.
Chanukah - Dec 2-9, 2010
Kislev 25 - Hanuka celebrates the rededication of
the Temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees
over the Hellenistic (Greek) army.
Tu Bishvat - Jan 20, 2011
Shevat 15 - Tu Bishvat is also known as the New Year
for Trees.
Fast of Esther - Mar 17, 2011
Adar 13 - A day of fasting in remembrance of the fast
of Queen Esther prior to her attempt to save the Jewish people
of ancient Persia.
Purim - Mar 20, 2011
Adar 14 - Purim commemorates the annulment of the
decree against the Jewish people in ancient Persia (Late 6th
century B.C.E.).
Passover - Apr 19-26, 2011
Nisan 15 - Passover
commemorates the Exodus of the
people of Israel from ancient
Egypt.
Yom Hashoa - May 2, 2011
Nisan 27 - Holocaust
Memorial Day in remembrance of
the 6 million Jews killed by
the German Nazi regime and their
collaborators.
Yom Ha’zikoron
- May 9, 2011
Iyar 4 -
Memorial Day in memory
of the fallen soldiers
of the Israel Defense
forces and victims of Arab
terrorism.
Yom HaAtzmaut
- May 10, 2011
Iyar
5
-
Israel
Independence
Day. Marks the
Declaration of
Independence of
the State of Israel in 1948.
Lag BaOmer - May 22, 2011
Iyar 18 - Lag BaOmer is the 33rd
day of the Omer commemorating a break in
the mourning period for the 24,000 students
of Rabbi Akiva (2nd century).
Yom Yerushalayim - Jun 1, 2011
Iyar 28 - Jerusalem Day celebrates
the liberation of Jerusalem during the
Six-Day War.
Shavuot - Jun 8-9, 2011
Sivan 6 - Shavuot commemorates
the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments
to Israelites at Mount Sinai over 3000
years ago. Shavuot means "weeks" as
Torah was given 7 weeks after the Exodus from Egypt. First harvest was
brought to the Temple on Shavuot.
Shiv'ah Asar Betammuz - Jul 19, 2011
Tammuz 17 - Fast Day commemorates the breach of the walls of
Jerusalem during the siege of the city by the Roman army (70 C.E.)
Tishah Beav - Aug 9, 2011
Av 9 - Fast of the Ninth of Av in Hebrew calendar commemorates
the destruction of the first and second Temples (the first by the Babylonians
in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). Expulsion of Jews
from Spain in 1492 also falls on this date.
The holidays start the evening prior to the above dates.