Jewish Holidays

Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgment and the Day of Remembrance, the beginning of the Hebrew year and the opening of the Days of Awe.

Yom Kippur is the central day of fasting and atonement in the Hebrew calendar, a day of repentance and purification.

Sukkot, also called the Festival of Ingathering, is the third of the three pilgrimage festivals, on which Israel is commanded to dwell in the sukkah and take the Four Species, in memory of the Clouds of Glory with which God protected Israel in the wilderness.

Shemini Atzeret is a separate festival day, on which Simchat Torah is celebrated — the completion and renewal of the Torah reading cycle.

Pesach, also called the Festival of Matzot, the Festival of Freedom, the Spring Festival, and the Festival of Redemption, is the first of the three pilgrimage festivals, commemorating Israel's redemption from Egyptian bondage and the Exodus to freedom.

Shavuot, also called the Harvest Festival, the Day of First Fruits, and the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, is the second of the three pilgrimage festivals, on which Israel received the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabean victory, the rededication of the altar, and the miracle of the cruse of oil in the Temple.

Purim is the festival of victory over Haman's plot, as told in the Book of Esther, on which four mitzvot are commanded: reading the Megillah, sending gifts of food, giving to the poor, and the Purim feast.

Tisha B'Av is a day of fasting and mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

Asara BeTevet is a fast day commemorating the siege of Jerusalem that preceded the destruction of the First Temple.

Ta'anit Esther is a fast day before Purim, commemorating the fast of Queen Esther before she went to the king.

Shiva Asar BeTammuz is a fast day that opens the Three Weeks, the period of mourning before Tisha B'Av.

Tu BiShvat is the New Year for Trees, a day marking the renewal of vegetation in the Land of Israel.

Lag BaOmer is the day the mourning for Rabbi Akiva's disciples ends, and the hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

Tu B'Av is a day of joy and love, on which the daughters of Israel would go out and dance in the vineyards.

Sefirat HaOmer is a biblical commandment to count the days from the day after the first day of Pesach until Shavuot.

Rosh Chodesh is the beginning of each month in the Hebrew calendar, a day of special significance and certain customs.

Shabbat is the weekly day of rest, a biblical commandment, on which labor is prohibited and rest and delight are commanded.

Yom HaShoah is a national day of remembrance for the martyrs of the Holocaust and the heroism of resisters and survivors.

Yom HaZikaron is a national day of remembrance for Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism.

Yom HaAtzma'ut is the national holiday of the State of Israel, commemorating the Declaration of Independence in 1948.

Yom Yerushalayim is a national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the liberation of the Western Wall in the Six-Day War.