| Rosh Hashanah | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Jewish New Year | ||
| 2 Days | 1st & 2nd Tishri | Thur-Fri Oct 3- 4 |
| Customs: Hear the Shofar sound (except on Sabbath), Tashlikh - Cast away your sins | ||
| What to Eat: Apples Dipped in Honey, Round Challah | ||
| What to Say: Shanah Tovah | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions on work both days | ||
| Yom Kippur | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Day of Atonement | ||
| 1 Day | 10th Tishri | Sat Oct 12 |
| Customs: Attend Kol Nidre Services Erev Yom Kippur (The only evening service of the year when everyone wears a talit). Attend Yizkor Services and Light Yarzheit Candles for departed members of the family | ||
| What to Eat: Start fasting Erev Yom Kippur, before sundown, and break the fast after sundown the next day | ||
| What to Say: G'Mar Hatimah Tova "As G-d puts His final seal on you, may it be for good!" | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions on work both days | ||
| Sukkot | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Harvest Festival | ||
| 7 Days | 15th-21 Tishri | Thur-Wed Oct 17 - 23 |
| Customs: Erect (and eat meals in the) Sukkah; Wave Symbolic Thanksgiving Offering "Festive Bouquet" made of Etrog (citron), Lulav (branch of date palm), Hadassim (myrtle) and Aravot (willows) | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath like restrictions on the first two and last two days | ||
| Shemini Atzeret | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Final Day of Sukkot | ||
| 1 Day | 22 Tishri | Thur Oct 24 |
| Customs: Yizkor Services, Prayer for Rain | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath like restrictions | ||
| Simchat Torah | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Completion of the Torah Readings for the Year | ||
| 1 Day | 23 Tishri | Fri Oct 25 |
| Customs: Join the Congregation as the Torahs are removed from the Ark and are carried around the Shul in celebratory dancing and singing | ||
| What to eat Jelly Apples | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath like restrictions | ||
| Chanukah | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Celebration of the victory of the Maccabees. Miracle of the oil that burned for 8 days | ||
| 8 Days | 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet | Thur-Thur Dec 26-Jan 2 |
| Customs:Light the Menorah, spin a dreidal | ||
| What to eat: Jelly Donuts, Potato Latkes | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: No work restrictions | ||
| Tu B'Shevat | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Jewish New Year for Trees | ||
| 1 Day | 15th Shevat | Thur Feb 13 |
| Customs: Plant trees in Israel | ||
| What to eat: Grapes, Figs, Olives. Pomegranates, Dates, Carobs | ||
| Work restrictions: No work restrictions | ||
| Purim | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Haman, the King's Prime Minister, plots to kill the Jews - Queen Esther saves the Jews by sharing information she gets from Mordecai with her husband, King Ahashverus. An affirmation of Jewish survival. | ||
| 1 Day | 14th Adar | Fri Mar 14 |
| Customs: Read the Megillah a.k.a. The Scroll of Esther, Spin a noisemaker at the mention of Haman's name, Dress up in costume, Share gifts of food and wine "Misholoach Manot" with family and friends. | ||
| What to eat: Hamantashen | ||
| Work restrictions: Limited restrictions on work | ||
| Passover | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Liberation of Israel from Egyptian slavery | ||
| 8 Days | 15th-22nd Nisan | Sun-Sun Apr 13 - 20 |
| Customs: Gather "Hametz" and remove from home, Celebrate two Passover seders, Read the Haggadah at the seders, Recite the Four Questions | ||
| What to eat: Unleavened Bread - Eat only those foods permitted on or prepared for Passover | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath like restrictions on the first 2 and last 2 days | ||
| Yom Hashoah | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Holocaust Memorial Day | ||
| 1 Day | 28th Nisan | Thur Apr 24 |
| Customs: Memorial Service | ||
| Work restrictions: No restrictions on work | ||
| Yom Ha'atzmaut | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Israel's Independence Day | ||
| 1 Day | 6th Iyar | Wed Apr 30 |
| What to eat: Israeli Foods | ||
| Work restrictions: No restrictions on work | ||
| Lag B'Omer | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Day of celebration in the midst of a seven week period of sadness | ||
| 1 Day | 18th Iyar | Fri May 16 |
| Customs: Picnics | ||
| Work restrictions: No restrictions on work | ||
| Shavu'ot | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: The Giving of the Torah to the Jewish People | ||
| 2 Days | 6th-7th Sivan | Mon-Tue June 2-3 |
| Customs: Tikkun - Stay up late to study Torah | ||
| What to eat: Dairy Foods | ||
| What to Say: Hag Samayakh, Gut Yontif | ||
| Work restrictions: Sabbath like restrictions | ||
| Tisha B'Av | ||
|---|---|---|
| What it is: Commemorating the Destruction of the Temples | ||
| 1 Day | 9th Av | Sun Aug 3 |
| Customs: Fasting, Reading the Book of Lamentations | ||
| What to eat: Fast | ||
| Work restrictions: Limited restrictions work through mid-day | ||