Jewish Holidays 2020 – 2021
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.
Major Holidays
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashana | Sep 19-20, 2020 Shabbat‑Sun | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Sep 28, 2020 Mon | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 3-4, 2020 Shabbat-Sun Oct 16-20, 2019 Wed‑Sun | Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 10, 2020 Shabbat | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 11, 2020 Sun | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 11-18, 2020 Fri‑Fri | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Feb 26, 2021 Fri | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Mar 28-29, 2021 Sun‑Mon Mar 30- Apr 2, 2021 Tue‑Fri Apr 3-4, 2021 Shabbat‑Sun | Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | May 17-18, 2021 Mon‑Tue | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Jul 18, 2021 Sun | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor Holidays
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Jan 28, 2021 Thu | New Year for Trees |
| Shushan Purim | Feb 28, 2021 Sun | 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 Mon | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag BaOmer | Apr 30, 2021 Fri | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
| Tu B'Av | Jul 24, 2021 Shabbat | Minor Jewish holiday of love, observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av |
| Leil Selichot | Aug 28, 2021 Shabbat | Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays |
Minor Fasts
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Sep 21, 2020 Mon | Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah |
| Asara B'Tevet | Dec 25, 2020 Fri | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta'anit Esther | Feb 25, 2021 Thu | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Mar 25, 2021 Thu | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jun 27, 2021 Sun | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple |
Modern Holidays
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaAliyah | Oct 25, 2020 Sun | Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel |
| Sigd | Nov 16, 2020 Mon | Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur |
| Yom HaShoah | Apr 8, 2021 Thu | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | Apr 14, 2021 Wed | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | Apr 15, 2021 Thu | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | May 10, 2021 Mon | Jerusalem Day |
Special Shabbatot
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Sep 26, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Feb 13, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Feb 20, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Mar 6, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Mar 13, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Mar 27, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Jul 17, 2021 Shabbat | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Jul 24, 2021 Shabbat | 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
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan | Oct 18, 2020 Sun | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 17, 2020 Tue | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 16, 2020 Wed | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | Jan 14, 2021 Thu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 12, 2021 Fri | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Mar 14, 2021 Sun | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Apr 12, 2021 Mon | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | May 12, 2021 Wed | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Jun 10, 2021 Thu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Jul 10, 2021 Shabbat | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Aug 8, 2021 Sun | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |