Israel Science and Technology Homepage

Jewish Holiday Calendar - Hebrew Year 5767 All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date specified. In Hebrew calendar a "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. All holidays are celebrated on the same day of the Hebrew calendar every year (with few exceptions when some holidays fall on Shabbat). Select year: • 5766 (2005-2006) • 5767 (2006-2007) • 5768 (2007-2008) • 5769 (2008-2009) Rosh HaShanah - Sep 23, 2006 Tishrei 1-2 - The Jewish New Year. Marks the beginning of ten days of repentance culminating with Yom Kippur. Fast of Gedaliah - Sep 25, 2006 Tishrei 3 - Commemorates the assassination of Gedalya Ben Achikam and start of Babylonian exile of the Jewish people (Early 6th century B.C.E.) Yom Kippur - Oct 2, 2006 Tishrei 10 - The Day of Atonement. Sukkot - Oct 7, 2006 Tishrei 15 - Sukkot commemorates the forty years of wandering of the People of Israel in the desert after the exodus from Egypt. In memory Jewish people are commanded to build and live in temporary dwellings for seven days (Leviticus 23:33). Simhat Torah - Oct 15, 2006 Tishrei 22 - Simhat Torah (Joy of Torah) marks the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. The concluding section of Torah is read followed by the reading of the first section of Genesis, symbolizing the continuing annual cycle of weekly Torah reading. Hanukah - Dec 16, 2006 Kislev 25 - Hanuka celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian army. Tu Bishvat - Feb 3, 2007 Shevat 15 - Tu Bishvat is also known as the New Year for Trees. Fast of Esther - Mar 1, 2007 Adar 13 - A day of fasting in remembrance of the fast of Queen Esther prior to her attempt to save the Jewish people of ancient Persia. Purim - Mar 4, 2007 Adar 14 - Purim commemorates the annulment of the decree against the Jewish people in ancient Persia (Late 6th century B.C.E.). Passover - Apr 3, 2007 Nisan 15 - Passover commemorates the Exodus of the people of Israel from ancient Egypt. Yom Hashoa - Apr 15, 2007 Nisan 27 - Holocaust Memorial Day in remembrance of the 6 million Jews killed by the German Nazi regime and their collaborators. Memorial Day - Apr 22, 2007 Iyar 4 - Memorial Day in memory of the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense forces and victims of Arab terrorism. Yom HaAtzmaut - Apr 23, 2007 Iyar 5 - Israel Independence Day. Marks the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel in 1948. Lag BaOmer - May 6, 2007 Iyar 18 - Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the Omer commemorating a break in the mourning period for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (2nd century). Yom Yerushalayim - May 16, 2007 Iyar 28 - Jerusalem Day celebrates the liberation of Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. Shavuot - May 23, 2007 Sivan 6 - Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments to Israelites at Mount Sinai over 3000 years ago. Shavuot means "weeks" as Torah was given 7 weeks after the Exodus from Egypt. First harvest was brought to the Temple on Shavuot. Shiv'ah Asar Betammuz - Jul 3, 2007 Tammuz 17 - Fast Day commemorates the breach of the walls of Jerusalem during the siege of the city by the Roman army (70 C.E.) Tishah Beav - Jul 24, 2007 Av 9 - Fast of the Ninth of Av in Hebrew calendar commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples (the first by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E.; the second by the Romans in 70 C.E.). Expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 also falls on this date.