JEWISH HOLIDAYS AND EXPLANATION
2006-2009
Please note that Jewish holidays
begin at sunset of the preceding evening. The Jewish Sabbath
begins at sunset on Friday of each week and lasts until
one hour after sundown on Saturday.
BOLD type denotes Jewish
High Holy Days and major Biblical festivals when Jews may
be absent from school or work.
| Holiday |
2006-2007/5767 |
2007-2008/5768 |
2008-2009/5769 |
| Rosh Hashanah |
Sept. 23-24, 2006 |
Sept. 13-14, 2007 |
Sept. 30-Oct.1, 2008 |
| Yom Kippur |
Oct. 2, 2006 |
Sept. 22, 2007 |
Oct. 9, 2008 |
| Sukkot (First 2 days) |
Oct. 7-8, 2006 |
Sept. 27-28, 2007 |
Oct. 14-15, 2008 |
| Sukkot (Intermed. days) |
Oct. 9-13, 2006 |
Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2007 |
Oct. 16-20, 2008 |
| Shemini Atzeret |
Oct. 14, 2006 |
Oct. 4, 2007 |
Oct. 21, 2008 |
| Simchat Torah |
Oct. 15, 2006 |
Oct. 5, 2007 |
Oct. 22, 2008 |
| Chanukah |
Dec. 16-23, 2006 |
Dec. 5-12, 2007 |
Dec. 22-29, 2008 |
| Purim |
Mar. 4, 2007 |
Mar. 21, 2008 |
Mar. 10, 2009 |
| Passover (First 2 days) |
Apr. 3-4, 2007 |
Apr. 20-21, 2008 |
Apr. 9-10, 2009 |
| Passover (Intermed. days) |
Apr. 5-8, 2007 |
Apr. 22-25, 2008 |
Apr. 11-14, 2009 |
| Passover (Last two days) |
Apr. 9-10, 2007 |
Apr. 26-27, 2008 |
Apr. 15-16, 2009 |
| Yom HaShoah |
April 15, 2007 |
May 2, 2008 |
Apr. 21, 2009 |
| Yom HaAtzmaut |
April 23, 2007 |
May 8, 2008 |
Apr. 29, 2009 |
| Shavuot |
May 23-24, 2007 |
June 9-10, 2008 |
May 29-20, 2009 |
EXPLANATION OF JEWISH HOLIDAYS
Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
Beginning of Jewish year. Begins at sunset of preceding
evening.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Most solemn of Jewish holy days devoted to prayer, fasting,
and repentance. Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
Sukkot (Tabernacles)
Jewish festival of thanksgiving, harvest, and remembrance
of the Jews wandering in the desert after their exodus from
Egypt. Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Sukkot)
Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law)
Reading of the Law (Torah) is completed and begun anew in
the synagogue. Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
Chanukah (Festival of Lights)
Eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating rededication of the
second Temple by the Maccabees and their victory over the
Syrians in 165 B.C. Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
Purim
Celebrates the deliverance of the Jews of ancient Persia
from a plot to exterminate them. Begins at sunset of preceding
evening.
Pesach (Passover)
Jewish festival marking the deliverance of Jews from slavery
in Egypt. Begins at sunset of preceding evening. First two
days and last two days of holiday are holy days.
Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Honors the memory of six million Jewish martyrs and heroes
who perished in the Nazi Holocaust.
Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day)
Jewish holiday marking the establishment of the State of
Israel in 1948.
Shavuot (Festival of Weeks)
Jewish festival commemorating giving of the Torah (Law)
on Mount Sinai. Begins at sunset of preceding evening.
