# List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar

All observances begin at sunset the day prior to the Gregorian date listed unless otherwise noted, and end on nightfall of the date in question, which is defined as the appearance of three stars in the sky. On leap years (which occur every 2–3 years) an extra month, Adar II, is added and certain holidays move accordingly, and it is mentioned in the notes section. All fasts other than Yom Kippur and Tisha b'Av begin at dawn of the day listed.

## Holidays for the Jewish calendar year of 5781 (2020–2021)

Yom tov for the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot) is observed for 1 day in Israel and in Reform and most Reconstructionist communities around the world, and is observed for 2 days in Orthodox and most Conservative communities outside Israel, because of yom tov sheni shel galuyot. In the table, these are referred to as 1-day and 2-day communities.
| Date on Hebrew calendar | Gregorian date | Hebrew Name | Notes |
| 1-2 Tishrei | September 19–20, 2020 | Rosh Hashanah | Public holiday in Israel |
| 1-10 Tishrei | September 19–28, 2020 | Ten Days of Repentance | |
| 3 Tishrei | September 21, 2020 | Fast of Gedalia | Public holiday in Israel, changes to Tishrei 4 when Tishrei 3 is Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| Movable | September 26, 2020 | Shabbat Shuvah (Sabbath of Return, or Sabbath of Repentance) | Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur |
| 9 Tishrei | September 27, 2020 | Erev Yom Kippur | Yom Kippur Eve |
| 10 Tishrei | September 28, 2020 | Yom Kippur | Public holiday in Israel. Unlike other fasting days, this does not move to avoid interfering with Shabbat. |
| 14 Tishrei | October 2, 2020 | Erev Sukkot | Sukkot Eve |
| Movable | October 3, 2020 | Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot | |
| 15-21 Tishrei | October 3–9, 2020 | Sukkot | One of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, public holiday in Israel |
| 16-21 Tishrei (1-day communities) / 17-21 Tishrei (2-day communities) | October 4–9, 2020/ October 5–9, 2020 | Chol HaMoed Sukkot | Public holiday in Israel. Seharane is celebrated by Kurdish Jews during this time, but only in the State of Israel. Outside of Israel Seharane is celebrated after Passover. |
| 21 Tishrei | October 9, 2020 | Hoshanah Rabbah | |
| 22 Tishrei | October 10, 2020 | Shemini Atzeret | Public holiday in Israel. Includes Simchat Torah in 1-day communities. |
| 23 Tishrei | October 11, 2020 | Simchat Torah | 2-day communities only |
| Movable | October 16, 2020 | Shabbat Mevorchim | Shabbat preceding and beginning a week containing a Rosh Chodesh |
| 1 Cheshvan | October 19, 2020 | Rosh Chodesh of Cheshvan | |
| Movable | October 20, 2020 | Bahab | First Monday of Cheshvan, starts at dawn (optional) |
| Movable | October 22, 2020 | Bahab | First Thursday of Cheshvan after the first Monday, starts at dawn.(optional) |
| Movable | October 26, 2020 | Bahab | Monday following first Thursday of Cheshvan, starts at dawn. (optional) |
| 7 Cheshvan | October 27, 2020 | V'tein Tal u-Matar ("Deliver Dew and Rain") | This is a prayer added to the Shemoneh Esrei prayers in Israel. If no rain has fallen by the 17th of Cheshvan, special prayers are added for rain |
| 7 Cheshvan | October 27, 2020 | Yom HaAliyah | Observed in Israeli schools on 7 Cheshvan with 10 Nisan being the public holiday in Israel. |
| 12 Cheshvan | October 30, 2020 | Rabin Day | Public holiday in Israel |
| Movable | November 13, 2020 | Shabbat Mevorchim | Shabbat preceding and beginning a week containing a Rosh Chodesh |
| 29 Cheshvan | November 16, 2020 | Sigd | Public holiday in Israel |
| 1 Kislev | November 17, 2020 | Rosh Chodesh of Kislev | In years when Cheshvan has 30 days, this also includes 30 Cheshvan. |
| 1 Kislev | November 17, 2020 | 1 Kislev | Non Rosh Chodesh related observance, Chabad sect only |
| 6 Kislev | November 22, 2020 | Ben-Gurion Day | Public holiday in Israel |
| 9 Kislev | November 25, 2020 | 9 Kislev | Chabad sect only |
| 10 Kislev | November 26, 2020 | 10 Kislev | Chabad sect only |
| 19 Kislev | December 5, 2020 | 19 Kislev | Chabad sect only |
| 23 Kislev | December 9, 2020 | Teacher's Day in Israel | |
| Movable | December 11, 2020 | Shabbat Mevorchim | Shabbat preceding and beginning a week containing a Rosh Chodesh |
| 25 Kislev— 2 Tevet | December 11–17, 2020 | Hanukkah | Public holiday in Israel. Ends 3 Tevet if Kislev is short. |
| 1 Tevet | December 16, 2020 | Rosh Chodesh of Tevet | |
| 5 Tevet | | 5 Tevet | Chabad sect only |
| 10 Tevet | December 25, 2020 | Tenth of Tevet | Public holiday in Israel. Starts at dawn. |
| Movable | January 9, 2021 | Shabbat Mevorchim | Shabbat preceding and beginning a week containing a Rosh Chodesh |
| 29 Tevet | January 13, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat.Starts at dawn. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Shevat | January 14, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Shevat | |
| 10 Shevat | January 23, 2021 | 10 Shevat | Chabad sect only |
| Movable | January 23, 2021 | Shabbat Shirah | Shabbat that falls on or before Tu BiShvat |
| 15 Shevat | January 28, 2021 | Tu BiShvat | Public holiday in Israel |
| 22 Shevat | February 4, 2021 | 22 Shevat | Chabad sect only |
| Movable | February 13, 2021 | Shabbat Shekalim | Shabbat on or before Rosh Chodesh Adar (or Adar II in leap years) |
| 29 Shevat | February 11, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Adar | February 12, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Adar | |
| 7 Adar | February 19, 2021 | Seventh of Adar | Starts at dawn. On Adar II on leap years, Adar I on non-leap years |
| Movable | February 20, 2021 | Shabbat Zachor | Shabbat immediately preceding Purim. On leap years, this falls on the 1st of Adar II, or on the 1st of Adar II itself if it is Shabbat. Adar I on non-leap years. |
| 13 Adar | February 25, 2021 | Fast of Esther | Public holiday in Israel. Starts at dawn. Can be moved to avoid conflict with the Sabbath. On Adar II on leap years, Adar I on non-leap years. |
| 14 Adar | Not celebrated | Purim Katan | Minor Purim celebration on Adar I during leap years. Purim itself is celebrated in Adar II. |
| 14 Adar | February 26, 2021 | Purim | Public holiday in Israel On Adar II on leap years, Adar I on non-leap years. |
| 15 Adar | February 27, 2021 | Shushan Purim | On Adar II on leap years, Adar I on non-leap years. |
| Movable | March 6, 2021 | Shabbat Parah | Shabbat preceding Shabbat HaChodesh |
| 29 Adar | March 11, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| Movable | March 13, 2021 | Shabbat HaChodesh | Shabbat on or immediately preceding Rosh Chodesh of Nisan |
| 1 Nisan | March 14, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Nisan | This is also the New Year for the reigns of Jewish kings (in line with the national emphasis of the season), the renting of houses, and the counting involved in the prohibition against delaying the fulfillment of vows. |
| 10 Nisan | March 23, 2021 | Yom HaAliyah | Public holiday in Israel |
| 11 Nisan | March 24, 2021 | 11 Nisan | (Chabad sect only) |
| 11 Nisan | March 24, 2021 | Education and Sharing Day | United States |
| 14 Nisan | March 25, 2021 | Fast of the Firstborn | on 12 Nisan when the 14th falls on Sabbath |
| Movable | March 27, 2021 | Shabbat HaGadol | Shabbat immediately preceding Passover |
| 15-21 Nisan (1-day communities) / 15-22 Nisan (2-day communities) | March 28-April 3, 2021/ March 28-April 4, 2021 | Passover | Public holiday in Israel. One of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. |
| 16-20 Nisan (1-day communities) / 17-20 Nisan (2-day communities) | March 29-April 2, 2021 / March 31-April 2, 2021 | Chol HaMoed Pesach | Public holiday in Israel. |
| Movable | April 3, 2021 | Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach | |
| 21 Nisan | April 3, 2021 | Shvi'i shel Pesach | Public holiday in Israel. |
| Movable | April 3–12, 2021 | Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust | United States, Sunday before Yom Hashoah to following Sunday |
| 22 Nisan (1-day communities) / 23 Nisan (2-day communities) | April 4, 2021 / April 5, 2021 | Mimouna | Public holiday in Israel |
| 16 Nisan - 5 Sivan | Sunset, 28 March – nightfall, 16 May 2021 | Counting the Omer | |
| 23 Nisan | April 5, 2021 | Seharane | Seharane is celebrated by Kurdish Jews outside of Israel on this date. In the state of Israel, it is celebrated on Chol HaMoed Sukkot. (see entry for that holiday) |
| 23 Nisan (22 Nisan within Israel) | April 5, 2021 (April 4, 2021) | Shab Shal | Iranian Jews, end of Passover holiday. |
| 27 Nisan | sunset, April 8 – nightfall, April 9, 2021 | Yom HaShoah | Public holiday in Israel. Moved to 26 or 28 Nisan when the 27th falls on Friday or Sunday respectively, interfering with Shabbat. |
| Movable | April 10, 2021 | Shabbat Mevorchim | Shabbat preceding and beginning a week containing a Rosh Chodesh |
| 1 Iyar | April 13, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Iyar | |
| 2 Iyar | April 14, 2021 | 2 Iyar | Chabad sect only. |
| First Thursday of Iyar | April 15, 2021 | Bahab | (optional) |
| 4 Iyar | Sunset, 16 April – nightfall, 17 April 2021 | Yom Hazikaron | Public holiday in Israel. Might be moved to avoid conflict with Independence Day (Israel) or Shabbat. |
| 5 Iyar | April 17, 2021 | Day to Praise | Same day as Independence Day (Israel), see next entry. |
| 5 Iyar | April 17, 2021 | Independence Day (Israel) | Public holiday in Israel. Might be moved to avoid conflict with Yom Hazikaron or Shabbat. |
| First Monday of Iyar | April 19, 2021 | Bahab | (optional) |
| Monday following first Thursday of Iyar | April 19, 2021 | Bahab | (optional) |
| 10 Iyar | April 22, 2021 | Herzl Day | Public holiday in Israel. |
| 14 Iyar | Sunset, 25 April – nightfall, 26 April 2021 | Pesach Sheni | |
| 18 Iyar | Sunset, 29 April – nightfall, 30 April 2021 | Lag Ba'omer | Public holiday in Israel. |
| 28 Iyar | May 10, 2021 | Fast of Samuel | Fast is optional and is generally only observed by Chevra kadisha. Starts at dawn. |
| 28 Iyar | May 10, 2021 | Jerusalem Day | Public holiday in Israel. |
| 29 Iyar | May 11, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Sivan | May 12, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Sivan | |
| 6 Sivan (1-day communities) / 6-7 Sivan (2-day communities) | May 17, 2021/ May 17–18, 2021 | Shavuot | One of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals. Public holiday in Israel. |
| 20 Sivan | May 31, 2021 | Fast of the Khmelnytsky massacres | Not widely observed |
| 29 Sivan | June 9, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Tammuz | June 11, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Tammuz | |
| 3 Tammuz | June 13, 2021 | 3 Tammuz | Chabad sect only |
| 12-13 Tammuz | June 22–23, 2021 | 12-13 Tammuz | Chabad sect only |
| 17 Tammuz | June 27, 2021 | Seventeenth of Tammuz | Can be moved to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Public holiday in Israel. |
| 17 Tammuz - 9 Av | June 27-July 18, 2021 | The Three Weeks | |
| 29 Tammuz | July 9, 2021 | Jabotinsky Day | Public holiday in Israel. |
| 29 Tammuz | July 9, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Av | July 10, 2021 | Rosh Chodesh of Av | |
| 1 Av - 9 Av | July 10-July 18, 2021 | The Nine Days | |
| Movable | July 17, 2021 | Shabbat Chazon | Shabbat immediately prior to Tisha B'Av |
| 9 Av | July 18, 2021 | Tisha B'Av | Public holiday in Israel |
| 15 Av | Sunset, 23 July – nightfall, 24 July 2021 | Tu B'Av | Public holiday in Israel. |
| Movable | July 24, 2021 | Shabat Nachamu | Shabbat immediately following Tisha B'av |
| 30 Av | August 8, 2021 | Yom Kippur Katan | Optional. If Yom Kippur Katan falls on a Friday or Saturday, it is moved to the preceding Thursday to avoid interfering with Shabbat. Starts at dawn. |
| 1 Elul | August 9, 2021 | Rosh Hashanah LeMa'sar Behemah and Rosh Chodesh of Elul | |
| 15 Elul | August 23, 2021 | 15 Elul | Chabad sect only |
| 18 Elul | August 26, 2021 | Chai Elul | Chabad sect only |
| Movable | August 28, 2021 | Leil Selichot prayers begin under Ashkenazic tradition | These prayers begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. If, however, the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday or Tuesday, the prayers are begun the Saturday night prior to ensure that Selichot are recited at least four times. |
| 29 Elul | September 6, 2021 | Erev Rosh Hashanah | |

## Non-annual observances

* Jewish calendar year 5782 - Shmita - September 7, 2021 - September 25, 2022 (Observed every seven years)
* Jewish calendar year 5783 - Hakhel - Observed every seven years, comes after Shimita year.
* Purim Meshulash - Rare calendar occurrence when Purim in Jerusalem falls on Shabbat. The next time this will happen is 2021.
* Purim Katan - Minor Purim celebration on Adar I during leap years. Purim itself is celebrated in Adar II. The next time this will happen is the Jewish year 5782, on February 14, 2022.
* 23 Nisan 5797 - Birkat Hachama - April 8, 2037 (Observed every 28 years)