Jewish Holidays

The Torah calls the festivals of Israel mo'adim, appointed times (Leviticus 23:2). Here you will find the coming date of each festival and fast, and a page for each one with its laws, prayers and customs.

The Jewish year is built around its holidays. Each one has its own date in the Hebrew calendar, its own mitzvot and its own message, and together they turn the year into a journey: from the Days of Awe in the fall, through the lights of Hanukkah and the joy of Purim in winter, to Passover and Shavuot in spring and the summer days of mourning for Jerusalem.

Because the Hebrew calendar follows the moon, the holidays move on the regular calendar from year to year. Every holiday page shows the dates for the next three years, with the Hebrew date.

Every guide here follows halacha and answers the questions people actually ask: what is permitted, who is exempt from a fast, which blessing to say and how to prepare. Choose a holiday to begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main Jewish holidays?

The holidays of the Torah are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot with Shemini Atzeret, Passover and Shavuot. The Sages added Hanukkah and Purim. The year also has fast days: four connected to the destruction of the Temple (the Fast of Gedaliah, the Tenth of Tevet, the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B'Av) and the Fast of Esther before Purim.

Why do Jewish holidays fall on different dates every year?

The Hebrew calendar is lunar, with months of 29 or 30 days, and a leap month (Adar II) is added seven times in every 19 years to keep the holidays in their seasons. A holiday always has the same Hebrew date, but its date on the regular calendar shifts from year to year.

When does a Jewish holiday begin and end?

A Jewish day begins in the evening, so a holiday starts at sunset on the evening before its date and ends at nightfall. The minor fasts are different: they begin at dawn and end at nightfall on the same day. Exact times depend on where you live.

Why are some holidays one day in Israel and two days elsewhere?

In the time of the Sanhedrin, the new month was declared in Jerusalem, and distant communities could not always learn the date in time, so they kept two days out of doubt. The Sages made this a lasting custom. Outside Israel, the festival days of Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot are kept for two days. Rosh Hashanah is two days everywhere.