Jewish Holidays 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 -, then the holiday begins at sundown on Oct 2 and ends at nightfall on Oct 4.
Major holidays
Holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified.
Dates in bold are yom tov, so they have similar obligations and restrictions to Shabbat in the sense that normal "work" is forbidden.
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Purim | Th | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | - Sa‑Su - M‑Th - F‑Sa |
Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | - Su‑M | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Su | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
| Rosh Hashana | - M‑Tu | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | W | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | - M‑Tu - W‑Su |
Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | M | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Tu | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | - Su‑Su | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
Minor holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | M | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Tu | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years |
| Shushan Purim | F | Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities |
| Pesach Sheni | Su | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag BaOmer | Th | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
| Tu B'Av | F | Jewish holiday of love, similar to Valentine's Day |
| Leil Selichot | Sep 24 Sa | Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays |
Minor fasts
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ta'anit Esther | Mar 23 W | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Apr 22 F | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 24 Su | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple |
| Tzom Gedaliah | Oct 5 W | Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah |
Modern holidays
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaShoah | Th | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | W | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | Th | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | Su | Jerusalem Day |
| Sigd | W | Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur |
Special Shabbatot
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shekalim | Sa | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Sa | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Sa | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Sa | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Sa | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Sa | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Sa | Shabbat after Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Consolation) |
| Shabbat Shuva | Sa | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
Rosh Chodesh
| Holiday | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | M | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Th | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Sa | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Su | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | W | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | F | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Sa | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Tu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Th | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | F | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |