A comprehensive guide on festivals and holidays observed by Jewish people based on Hebrew calendar with exact dates in year 2024.
Jewish Festivals & Holidays - "A life built upon Sabbath is contented because in rhythms of rest we discover our time is full of the holiness of God." Shelly Miller, has echoed the devotion towards Judaism eloquently in Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World. While Shabbat or Sabbath may be a day for resting, Jewish holidays are more meaningful than their literal meaning.
Many perceive Jewish holidays to be commemorations of historical events. Although there are significant days in a year Jews dedicate to paying tribute to their turbulent history, many of their festivals are conceptually different. For starters, holidays in the Jewish concept are called "rendezvous", essentially meaning an appointed time for meetings. Meeting with who, you may wonder? Meetings with the multidimensional spiritual being, the divine, God, and the soul. What it means to be a Jew is in the incorporation of these meetings that fortify the understanding of their history, the dimensions of time and place, but also the spiritual dimensions that reach the core of the being - their heart.
Simply put, Jewish holidays are the time when people come together to celebrate their being as they walk to the threshold of the deepest aspects of their existence.
The designated days of festivals for the Jews are in accordance with the Hebrew calendar, which is a lunar/solar calendar. Also the official calendar in Israel, the year 2024 is actually 5783 as per the count from when the Earth was created.
Shabbat
Every Friday, Jewish people celebrate Shabbat. It is a day that God commemorates how the world came to be and celebrates absolute peace and harmony.
When is Shabbat
Begins at sunset every Friday evening
Ends after dark on Saturday evening
Purim 2024
Purim is a holiday that commemorates the Jewish community's victory over an evil enemy.
When is Purim:
Begins sunset March 23, 2024
Ends evening March 24, 2024
Passover 2024
The Jewish holiday known as Passover commemorates the Israelite/Jewish exodus from Egyptian slavery. Two seder services occur in Jewish homes on the Eve and first night. Work is prohibited on the first two and last two days of Passover.
When is Passover:
Begins sunset April 22, 2024
Ends evening April 30, 2024
Rosh Hashanah
This holiday marks the beginning of the Jewish year and the two-day holiday includes Yom Kippur. Food eaten during this time includes honey and apples related to hopes for a sweet year.
When is Rosh Hashanah:
Begins sunset October 02, 2024
Ends evening October 04, 2024
Yom Kippur
Jews celebrate the most important day of the year called Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement. Everyone fasts, go to services, prays and repent on this special day.
When is Rosh Yom Kippur:
Begins sunset October 11, 2024
Ends evening October 12, 2024
Sukkot
The festival of Sukkot is a celebration of thanksgiving and remembrance during which Jews eat for eight days. The three latter-day holidays of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah come at the end of the festival.
Shemini Atzeret
After a week of celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, Jews celebrate Shemini Atzeret. It is a joyous event that culminates on Simchat Torah (similar to a break) and means "the assembly of the eighth."
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah is the celebration of the conclusion of the annual readings of the Torah - The Five Books of Moses. The day is observed on the Jewish High Holy Days throughout Judaism.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah celebrates the victory of Jews over ancient Assyrians and their dedication of the temple in Jerusalem. This festival celebrates their fight for religious freedom, and it was released from its Greek rule.
When is Hanukkah:
2023
Begins sunset December 7, 2024
Ends evening December 15, 2024
2024
Begins sunset December 25, 2024
Ends evening January 02, 2025
Tu B'Shevat
Tu BiShvat is a Jewish holiday occurring at the end of Shevat. It creates an opportunity for us to celebrate trees from ancient traditions.
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day)
Remembering the suffering of the Jewish people and acknowledging their Holocaust.
Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day)
Israel has official Memorial Day that is celebrated in honor of its fallen soldiers and civilian victims of terrorism. It is also recognized to pay respect to civilian victims who were not military related.
Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day)
The Jewish day of celebration of Jewish independence in 1948.
Lag B'Omer
Lag BaOmer is a day to mark the passing of Shimon bar Yochai or in English his name means six year. Lag BaOmer celebrates the plague's end.
Shavuot
Celebrating the receiving of the Torah; commemorating Shavuot.
Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av is a day to remember historical tragedies in Judaism and the loss of both Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple.
Tu B'Av
The Jewish holiday Tu B'Av is a celebration of love in Israel. People mark this day as a potential day for their wedding.
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 24-25 | Wednesday~Thursday | Tu Bishvat |
| Mar 23 | Saturday | Purim (Begins sunset) |
| Mar 25 | Monday | Shushan Purim (Ends nightfall) |
| Apr 22 | Monday | Passover (1st day, Begins sunset) |
| Apr 30 | Tuesday | Passover (final day, Ends nightfall) |
| May 05 | Sunday | Yom Hashoah |
| May 12 | Sunday | Yom Hazikaron |
| May 13 | Monday | Yom Ha'atzmaut |
| May 9 | Tuesday | Lag B'omer |
| Jun 04 | Tuesday | Yom Yerushalayim |
| Jun 11 | Tuesday | Shavuot (1st day) |
| Aug 12 | Monday | Tisha B'av |
| Oct 2 | Wednesday | Rosh Hashanah Starts (Begins sunset) |
| Oct 4 | Friday | Rosh Hashanah Ends (Ends nightfall) |
| Oct 5 | Saturday | Fast of Gedaliah |
| Oct 11 | Friday | Yom Kippur |
| Oct 16 | Wednesday | Sukkot (Begins sunset) |
| Oct 23 | Wednesday | Sukkot (Ends nightfall) |
| Oct 23-25 | Wednesday ~ Sunday | Shemini Atzeret |
| Oct 25 | Friday | Simchat Torah |
| Dec 7 | Thursday | Hanukkah Starts (Begins sunset) |
| Dec 15 | Friday | Hanukkah Ends (Ends nightfall) |