Jewish Holidays 2011-2012
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 sundown on Sep 20. Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal "work" is forbidden.
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Major holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashana | Sep 29-30, 2011 | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Oct 8, 2011 | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 13-14, 2011 Oct 15-19, 2011 |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 20, 2011 | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 21, 2011 | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 21-28, 2011 | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Mar 8, 2012 | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Apr 7-8, 2012 Apr 9-12, 2012 Apr 13-14, 2012 |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | May 27-28, 2012 | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Jul 29, 2012 | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Feb 8, 2012 | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years | |
| Shushan Purim | Mar 9, 2012 | Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities |
| Days of the Omer | 7 weeks from the second night of Pesach to the day before Shavuot | |
| Pesach Sheni | May 6, 2012 | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag B'Omer | May 10, 2012 | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
Public fasts
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Oct 2, 2011 | Fast of the Seventh Month |
| Asara B'Tevet | Jan 5, 2012 | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta'anit Esther | Mar 7, 2012 | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Apr 6, 2012 | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 8, 2012 | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | Apr 19, 2012 | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | Apr 25, 2012 | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | Apr 26, 2012 | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | May 20, 2012 | Jerusalem Day |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Oct 1, 2011 | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Feb 18, 2012 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Mar 3, 2012 | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Mar 17, 2012 | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Mar 24, 2012 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Mar 31, 2012 | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Jul 28, 2012 | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Aug 4, 2012 | Shabbat after Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Consolation) |
| Shabbat Rosh Chodesh | When Shabbat falls on Rosh Chodesh | |
| Shabbat Machar Chodesh | When Shabbat falls the day before Rosh Chodesh |
Rosh Chodesh
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5772 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Oct 28, 2011 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 27, 2011 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 26, 2011 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | Jan 25, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 23, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) | |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Mar 24, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Apr 22, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | May 22, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Jun 20, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Jul 20, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Aug 18, 2012 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |