Jewish Holidays 2021

Dates of major and minor Jewish holidays for 2021. Each holiday page includes a brief overview of special observances and customs, and any special Torah readings.

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 Sep 6 and ends at nightfall on Sep 8.

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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.

HolidayDatesDescription
Purim F Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar
Pesach - Su‑M
- Tu‑F
- Sa‑Su		 Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Shavuot - M‑Tu 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 - Tu‑W The Jewish New Year
Yom Kippur Th Day of Atonement
Sukkot - Tu‑W
- Th‑M		 Feast of Tabernacles
Shmini Atzeret Tu Eighth Day of Assembly
Simchat Torah W Day of Celebrating the Torah
Chanukah - M‑M The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights

Minor holidays

HolidayDatesDescription
Tu BiShvat Th New Year for Trees
Shushan Purim Su Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and walled cities
Pesach Sheni M Second Passover, one month after Passover
Lag BaOmer F 33rd day of counting the Omer
Tu B'Av Sa Jewish holiday of love, similar to Valentine's Day
Leil Selichot Aug 28 Sa Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays

Minor fasts

HolidayDatesDescription
Ta'anit Esther Feb 25 Th Fast of Esther
Ta'anit Bechorot Mar 25 Th Fast of the First Born
Tzom Tammuz Jun 27 Su Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple
Tzom Gedaliah Sep 9 Th Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah
Asara B'Tevet Dec 14 Tu Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem

Modern holidays

HolidayDatesDescription
Yom HaShoah Th Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom HaZikaron W Israeli Memorial Day
Yom HaAtzma'ut Th Israeli Independence Day
Yom Yerushalayim M Jerusalem Day
Yom HaAliyah W Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel
Sigd Th Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur

Special Shabbatot

HolidayDatesDescription
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

HolidayDatesDescription
Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat Th Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat
Rosh Chodesh Adar F Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar
Rosh Chodesh Nisan Su Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan
Rosh Chodesh Iyyar M Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar
Rosh Chodesh Sivan W Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan
Rosh Chodesh Tamuz Th Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz
Rosh Chodesh Av Sa Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av
Rosh Chodesh Elul Su Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul
Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan W Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan
Rosh Chodesh Kislev F Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Tevet Sa Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet