Jewish Holidays 2020-2021
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 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashana | Sep 19-20, 2020 | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Sep 28, 2020 | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 3-4, 2020 Oct 5-9, 2020 |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 10, 2020 | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 11, 2020 | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 11-18, 2020 | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Feb 26, 2021 | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Mar 28-29, 2021 Mar 30-Apr 2, 2021 Apr 3-4, 2021 |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | May 17-18, 2021 | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Jul 18, 2021 | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Jan 28, 2021 | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years | |
| Shushan Purim | Feb 28, 2021 | 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 | Apr 26, 2021 | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag B'Omer | Apr 30, 2021 | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
Public fasts
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Sep 21, 2020 | Fast of the Seventh Month |
| Asara B'Tevet | Dec 25, 2020 | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta'anit Esther | Feb 25, 2021 | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Mar 25, 2021 | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jun 27, 2021 | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | Apr 8, 2021 | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | Apr 14, 2021 | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | Apr 15, 2021 | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | May 10, 2021 | Jerusalem Day |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Hebrew Year 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Sep 26, 2020 | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Feb 13, 2021 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Feb 20, 2021 | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Mar 6, 2021 | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Mar 13, 2021 | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Mar 27, 2021 | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Jul 17, 2021 | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Jul 24, 2021 | 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 5781 | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Oct 18, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 17, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 16, 2020 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | Jan 14, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 12, 2021 | 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 14, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Apr 12, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | May 12, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Jun 10, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Jul 10, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Aug 8, 2021 | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |