How to read this table
The dates are the days the holiday falls outside Israel. Where Israel differs, the Israel dates appear under the name. The “Begins” column shows when candles are lit or the fast starts.
About the holiday calendar
Do Jewish holidays start the evening before?
Yes. The Jewish day begins at sundown, so every holiday starts on the evening before the first date in the table. The minor fasts (Tzom Gedaliah, Asara B’Tevet, Ta’anit Esther and 17 Tammuz) start at dawn instead.
Why do the dates change every year?
Holidays are fixed in the Hebrew calendar, which follows the moon and the sun. A common Hebrew year is about 11 days shorter than a civil year, and a 13th month is added 7 times in 19 years, so each holiday moves within a window of about a month.
Why are some holidays longer outside Israel?
Outside Israel, an extra festival day is kept for Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret. The Israel dates are shown under the holiday name where they differ.