Jewish Holidays 2019 – 2020
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 30-Oct 1, 2019 Mon‑Tue | The Jewish New Year |
| Yom Kippur | Oct 9, 2019 Wed | Day of Atonement |
| Sukkot | Oct 14-15, 2019 Mon‑Tue Oct 16-20, 2019 Wed‑Sun | Feast of Tabernacles |
| Shmini Atzeret | Oct 21, 2019 Mon | Eighth Day of Assembly |
| Simchat Torah | Oct 22, 2019 Tue | Day of Celebrating the Torah |
| Chanukah | Dec 23-30, 2019 Mon‑Mon | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights |
| Purim | Mar 10, 2020 Tue | Purim is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar |
| Pesach | Apr 9-10, 2020 Thu‑Fri Apr 11-14, 2020 Shabbat‑Tue Apr 15-16, 2020 Wed‑Thu | Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| Shavuot | May 29-30, 2020 Fri‑Shabbat | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai |
| Tish'a B'Av | Jul 30, 2020 Thu | The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples |
Minor Holidays
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tu BiShvat | Feb 10, 2020 Mon | New Year for Trees |
| Purim Katan | Minor Purim celebration during Adar I on leap years | |
| Shushan Purim | Mar 11, 2020 Wed | 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 | May 8, 2020 Fri | Second Passover, one month after Passover |
| Lag BaOmer | May 12, 2020 Tue | 33rd day of counting the Omer |
| Tu B'Av | Aug 5, 2020 Wed | Minor Jewish holiday of love, observed on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Av |
| Leil Selichot | Sep 12, 2020 Shabbat | Prayers for forgiveness in preparation for the High Holidays |
Minor Fasts
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tzom Gedaliah | Oct 2, 2019 Wed | Fast of the Seventh Month, commemorates the assassination of the Jewish governor of Judah |
| Asara B'Tevet | Jan 7, 2020 Tue | Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem |
| Ta'anit Esther | Mar 9, 2020 Mon | Fast of Esther |
| Ta'anit Bechorot | Apr 8, 2020 Wed | Fast of the First Born |
| Tzom Tammuz | Jul 9, 2020 Thu | Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple |
Modern Holidays
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Yom HaAliyah | Nov 5, 2019 Tue | Recognizes Aliyah, immigration to the Jewish State of Israel |
| Sigd | Nov 27, 2019 Wed | Ethiopian Jewish holiday occurring 50 days after Yom Kippur |
| Yom HaShoah | Apr 21, 2020 Tue | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| Yom HaZikaron | Apr 28, 2020 Tue | Israeli Memorial Day |
| Yom HaAtzma'ut | Apr 29, 2020 Wed | Israeli Independence Day |
| Yom Yerushalayim | May 22, 2020 Fri | Jerusalem Day |
Special Shabbatot
| Holidays | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shabbat Shuva | Oct 5, 2019 Shabbat | Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Shabbat of Returning) |
| Shabbat Shekalim | Feb 22, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar |
| Shabbat Zachor | Mar 7, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat before Purim |
| Shabbat Parah | Mar 14, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat of the Red Heifer |
| Shabbat HaChodesh | Mar 21, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan |
| Shabbat HaGadol | Apr 4, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat before Pesach |
| Shabbat Chazon | Jul 25, 2020 Shabbat | Shabbat before Tish'a B'Av (Shabbat of Prophecy/Shabbat of Vision) |
| Shabbat Nachamu | Aug 1, 2020 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 29, 2019 Tue | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Cheshvan |
| Rosh Chodesh Kislev | Nov 28, 2019 Thu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Kislev |
| Rosh Chodesh Tevet | Dec 28, 2019 Shabbat | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tevet |
| Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat | Jan 27, 2020 Mon | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sh'vat |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar | Feb 25, 2020 Tue | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar |
| Rosh Chodesh Adar II | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Adar II (on leap years) | |
| Rosh Chodesh Nisan | Mar 26, 2020 Thu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Nisan |
| Rosh Chodesh Iyyar | Apr 24, 2020 Fri | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Iyyar |
| Rosh Chodesh Sivan | May 24, 2020 Sun | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Sivan |
| Rosh Chodesh Tamuz | Jun 22, 2020 Mon | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Tamuz |
| Rosh Chodesh Av | Jul 22, 2020 Wed | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Av |
| Rosh Chodesh Elul | Aug 20, 2020 Thu | Beginning of new Hebrew month of Elul |