Holidays
If you want a general understanding of Jewish holidays, then this is the page for you. Other pages on this site provide more detailed information about the Jewish holidays; this page just tells you the basics.
Why do Jewish holidays keep changing dates?
Jewish holidays actually occur on the same day every year: the same day on the Jewish calendar! The Jewish calendar has a different number of days than the calendar you use because the Jewish calendar is tied to the moon’s cycles instead of the sun’s. The Jewish calendar loses about 11 days relative to the solar calendar every year, but makes up for it by adding a month every two or three years. As a result, the holidays don’t always fall on the same day, but they always fall within the same month or two. The Chinese calendar (which is also lunar) works the same way, which is why Chinese New Year occurs on different days but is always in late January or early February. The Muslim calendar is lunar but does not add months, which is why Ramadan circles the calendar.
When does a Jewish Holiday Start and End? How long is a Jewish holiday?
In ancient times, because of confusion about the calendar, an extra day was added to some holidays. In modern times, some branches of Judaism have abandoned this custom, returning the holidays to the length specified in the Bible. Other branches continue the ancient tradition of adding a day to certain holidays. Thus for some Jews, Thursday is a holiday but Friday is not, while for others, both Thursday and Friday are holidays.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that a Jewish “day” starts at sunset, and holidays start the evening before the day on your secular calendar. For example, if your calendar says that Passover starts on April 24, families will be getting together for Passover dinner on the night of April 23. A few secular calendars mark the preceding day as “Erev Passover,” which basically means Passover Eve. If your calendar says “Erev” or “Eve” before a holiday name, it means the holiday starts the evening of that day and continues into the next day.
To find the date for upcoming Jewish Holidays, please click here
Sat, January 16 2021
3 Sh'vat 5781
Upcoming Events
-
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 19 , 2021Executive Committee meeting
Tuesday, Jan 19th 7:00p to 9:00p
-
Thursday ,
JanJanuary 21 , 2021Sisterhood Book Bag
Thursday, Jan 21st 1:30p to 3:00p
-
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 23 , 2021Bat Mitzvah of Rachel Rosenblum
Shabbat, Jan 23rd (All day)
-
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 23 , 2021Shabbat morning service
Shabbat, Jan 23rd 10:00a to 12:00p
-
Tuesday ,
JanJanuary 26 , 2021Board meeting
Tuesday, Jan 26th 7:00p to 9:00p
-
Saturday ,
JanJanuary 30 , 2021Shabbat morning service
Shabbat, Jan 30th 10:00a to 12:00p
-
Monday ,
FebFebruary 1 , 2021Hadassah Board meeting
Monday, Feb 1st 10:00a to 12:00p
-
Tuesday ,
FebFebruary 2 , 2021Sisterhood Board meeting
Tuesday, Feb 2nd 10:00a to 12:00p
-
Saturday ,
FebFebruary 6 , 2021Bar Mitzvah of Asher Holton
Shabbat, Feb 6th (All day)
-
Saturday ,
FebFebruary 6 , 2021Shabbat morning service
Shabbat, Feb 6th 10:00a to 12:00p
There are no upcoming events at this time.
Shabbat Worship
Friday night service - 7:30pm
Saturday morning service - 10:00am
Join us via live stream or on Facebook Live