Jewish Holidays 2015-2016
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 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashana | Sep 14-15, 2015 | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Sep 23, 2015 | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Sep 28-29, 2015 Sep 30-Oct 4, 2015 |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 5, 2015 | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 6, 2015 | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 7-14, 2015 | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Mar 24, 2016 | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Apr 23-24, 2016 Apr 25-28, 2016 Apr 29-30, 2016 |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | Jun 12-13, 2016 | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Aug 14, 2016 | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Jan 25, 2016 | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Feb 23, 2016 | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years |
| Shushan Purim | Mar 25, 2016 | 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 22, 2016 | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag B'Omer | May 26, 2016 | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
Public fasts
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Sep 16, 2015 | Fast of the Seventh Month |
| Asara B'Tevet | Dec 22, 2015 | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta'anit Esther | Mar 23, 2016 | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Apr 22, 2016 | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 24, 2016 | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | May 5, 2016 | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | May 11, 2016 | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | May 12, 2016 | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | Jun 5, 2016 | Jerusalem Day |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Sep 19, 2015 | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Mar 5, 2016 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Mar 19, 2016 | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Apr 2, 2016 | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Apr 9, 2016 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Apr 16, 2016 | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Aug 13, 2016 | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Aug 20, 2016 | 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 5776 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Oct 13, 2015 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 12, 2015 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 12, 2015 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | Jan 11, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 9, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Mar 10, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Apr 9, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | May 8, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | Jun 7, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Jul 6, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Aug 5, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Sep 3, 2016 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |