Jewish Calendar For
Year 5763
Shabbat
From Friday Sundown To Saturday Sundown
Every Week of the Year
Shabbat is one of the foundations, if not the
foundation, of Jewish life. Its observance has protected and inspired the Jew
throughout history and has influenced, in some degree or another, all of civilization. It
is based on two fundamental premises:
- G-d created the world in six "days"
and "rested" on the seventh "day."
- G-d intervened in history to take the Jewish People
out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.
All else of Shabbat law; perhaps, in a
sense, all of Torah law as well, and an understanding of the Jewish soul, follow from the
above premises.
Pearl
& Harold M. Jacobs Learning Center for the Weekly Day of Rest
Work Restrictions: Thirty-nine Biblical categories of "melachah" very loosely defined as
"work," and Rabbinical extensions
Rosh HaShanah
5763
1-2 Tishrei (September 7-8, 2002)
The Jewish New Year Day of Judgment for
the entire world. Extended, special synagogue services and blowing of the ram's horn -
Shofar. Start of Ten Days of Repentance.
Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like
restrictions on work both days in both Israel and the diaspora.
Tzom Gedaliah
3 Tishrei (September 9,
2002)
Fast Day Lamenting The Expulsion From
Israel; Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the assassination of Gedalya Ben
Achikam, and the true start of Babylonian exile of the Jewish people (Early 6th century
B.C.E.)
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Yom Kippur
10 Tishrei (September 16,
2002)
The Day of Atonement - Fast day, beginning prior to sunset on the previous
day (September 15, 2002). Day-long synagogue services, with many special prayers,
including Kol Nidre, N'eela, and Memorial (Yizkor) services.
Work Restrictions: All
Sabbath-like work restrictions, with no exceptions for cooking etc. as on Sukkot, Shmini
Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Passover and Shavuot, where exceptions are made for food
preparation and carrying. In addition, there are special restrictions against washing,
applying oils, etc. to oneself, marital relations and wearing leather shoes.
Sukkot
15-21 Tishrei
(September
21-26, 2002)
The Tabernacles - Commemorates the
Jewish people's wanderings in the desert. All meals must be eaten in special temporary hut
- the "Sukkah" Rituals with four species of plants - Lulav and Etrog - culminating with special services on the
seventh day - Hoshana Rabah.
Work Restrictions:
Israel: Sabbath-like restrictions on the first day.
Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days.
Diaspora: Sabbath like restrictions on the first 2 days. Non-essential work activities or crafts
prohibited during other days.
Hoshanah Rabah
21 Tishrei (September
27, 2002)
The seventh and last day of Sukkot -
culminates the observation of the Days of Awe as
the day of the final sealing of judgment, which began on Rosh Hashanah. Additional prayers
and quests for repentance as on Yom Kippur are said in syngogue.
Work Restrictions: Non-essential
work activities or crafts prohibited.
Shmini Atzeret
22 Tishrei (September
28, 2002)
The Eighth Day of Assembly - culminates the
celebration of renewal and thanksgiving and invokes our anticipation of the Messianic Age.
Memorial (Yizkor) services are said in syngogue.
Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like restrictions.
Simchat Torah
Israel: 22 Tishrei (September
28, 2002)
Diaspora: 23 Tishrei (September
29, 2002)
Rejoicing of The Torah - Special
celebration of closing of the High Holidays season. Cycle of Biblical readings in
synagogue completed and begun again in joyous celebration and festivity. Combined with
Shmini Atzeret in Israel into one day, celebrated as second of two consecutive days in the
Diaspora.
Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like
restrictions.
Chanukah
25 Kislev - 2 Tevet
(Novemer 30-December 7, 2002)
The Holiday Of Lights - Celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple
in Jerusalem to holy service by the Maccabees after their successful struggle for
independence and religious freedom against the Syrians (2nd century B.C.E.). Commemorated
by lighting candles during each night.
Work Restrictions: Tradition
limits work only during the time that the Chanukah candles are lit.
Rosh Chodesh Tevet
(December 5-6, 2002)
A Month of Anguish - On the
10th - Asara BeTevet - Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the beginning of
the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (7th century B.C.E.).
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Asarah B'Tevet
(December 15, 2002)
Fast day that begins at first morning
light and ends at dusk. Commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem
(Early 6th century B.C.E.). In the modern State of Israel, Kaddish (the Jewish prayer for the deceased) is
recited on this day for people whose date or place of death is unknown. Consequently, many
rabbis have designated it as a day of remembrance for the Holocaust.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Tu B'Shevat
15 Shevat (January 18,
2003)
Jewish Arbor Day. Celebration
of new fruits and the land of Israel. No eulogies or daily prayers of mourning said. Some
add special services.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Fast of Esther
13 Adar (March 17, 2003)
Fast begins at first morning light.
Commemorates the fast of Queen Esther in order to save the Jewish people of ancient Persia
(Late 6th century B.C.E.), and the subsequent victory of the Jewish people over their
enemies.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Purim
14 Adar (March 18, 2003)
Commemorates the rescue of the Jewish
people in ancient Persia (Late 6th century B.C.E.). Celebrated with feasts, special
prayers, the reading of the Book of Esther, the sending of gifts from friend to friend,
and extra charity.
Work Restrictions: Limited
restrictions on work.
Shushan Purim
15 Adar (March 19, 2003)
Purim in cities surrounded by
walls from the days of Joshua such as Jerusalem - see
inside for details.
Work Restrictions: Limited
restrictions on work.
Rosh Chodesh Nisan
(April 3, 2003)
The first commandment given by G-d to the
Jewish People was to establish the beginning of the Month of Nisan (which wasn't yet
called "Nisan," but, rather, the First Month). Until now, the Calendar was, so
to speak, in G-d's hands. From this point on, the Hebrew Calendar was placed in the hands
of the Jewish People.
Chodesh Nisan, The Month
of Nisan
(April 3 - May 2, 2003)
"Hashem said
to Moshe and Aharon in the Land of Egypt, 'This month shall be for you the beginning of
the months; it shall be for you the first of the months of the year.' " (Shemot,
12:1-2)
Nisan is the Month of Redemption, because
it is the month in which the Exodus took place around 3,300 B.C.E., at which time the
Jewish People were redeemed from Slavery in Egypt. This event, in which the Bible records
(Shemot, Chapters 1-15) G-d's intervention in human history in behalf of the oppressed
Children of Israel, constituted the physical birth of the Jewish Nation.
Passover
15-21 Nisan (15-22 in Diaspora)
Israel: April 17-23, 2003
Diaspora: April 17-24, 2003
Commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish
people from ancient Egypt. Special dietary restrictions beginning the morning of the
previous day. No foods containing fermented grain products - Chametz -
may be consumed or found in any Jewish household. Special family meal - the
"Seder" - conducted during the first evening in Israel and the first 2 evenings
in the Diaspora. Memorial (Yizkor) services are said on 7th day in Israel, 8th day in the
Diaspora.
Work Restrictions:
Israel: Sabbath like restrictions on the first and
last days (15 & 21 Nisan). Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during
other days.
Diaspora: Sabbath like restrictions on the first 2
and last 2 days (15&16 &
21&22 Nisan). Non-essential work activities or crafts prohibited during other days.
Yom HaShoah
27 Nisan (April
29, 2003)
Holocaust Memorial Day - Special
memorial prayers are said.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Yom HaZikaron Lechalalei Ma'arachot
Yisrael
4 Iyar (May 6, 2003)
Israel Defense Forces Memorial Day -
Special memorial prayers are said.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Yom HaAtzmaut
5 Iyar (May 7, 2003)
Israel Independence Day. Many add
special thanksgiving prayers and celebratory feast.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Lag
BaOmer
18 Iyar (May 20, 2003)
Break in the mourning period for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (2nd century). Only
day in 49-day period when weddings permitted.
No special services.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Yom Yerushalayim
Israel - 27 Iyar (May 29,
2003)
Diaspora - 28 Iyar (May 30, 2003)
Jerusalem Reunification Day. Many add
special thanksgiving prayers and celebratory feast.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Rosh Chodesh Sivan
1 Sivan
(June 1, 2003)
"In the third month after the Exodus of
the Jewish People from Egypt, on that very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai"
(Shemot 19:1)
Jewish Tradition says that "that
very day" refers to Rosh
Chodesh Sivan. This Rosh Chodesh always consists of just one day because Iyar, the
preceding month, is always categorized, calendar-wise, as "missing;" that is, it
consists of just twenty-nine days. Sivan itself, however, is always "full;" that
is, it always consists of the full complement of thirty days.
Chodesh Sivan
1 Sivan - 30 Sivan
(June 1-30, 2003)
This month has the great privilege
of being the month in which the People of Israel received the Torah at the foot of Mount
Sinai, perhaps the greatest event in the History of the Jewish People and of World
History, which is commemorated on the Festival of Shavuot, the "Day of the Giving of
the Torah."
Shavuot
6 Sivan - Israel (6 & 7 In Diaspora)
Israel: June 6, 2003
Diaspora: June 6-7, 2003
Moses Recieves The Torah (Pentecost) -
Celebrating G-d's giving of the Torah and Ten Commandments to the Jews at Mt. Sinai.
Memorial (Yizkor) services said (on 2nd day in diaspora).
Work Restrictions: Sabbath-like
work restrictions one day in Israel - two days in diaspora.
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz
30 Sivan - 1 Tammuz (June 30-July 1, 2003)
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is always two days,
because the preceding month, Sivan, is always "malei," or "full;" that
is, always contains 30 days. The first day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is the 30th
day of Sivan, and the second day of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz is the first of Tammuz.
Chodesh Tammuz
1 Tammuz - 29 Tammuz
(July 1-29, 2003)
This month is always "chaser," or
"diminished;" that is, it always contains only 29 days. Therefore, the Rosh
Chodesh of the following month, Av, is just one day, the first of Av.
This month, Tammuz, followed by Av,
contain the three week period known as "Bein Ha-Metzarim," "in the
straits" of trouble between the Jewish People and G-d. Many tragedies occurred in
this month, which led to still greater tragedies in the next month. But our hope and
belief is that ultimately, this time will become a time of joy and redemption for the
Jewish People.
Fast of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz
17 Tammuz (July 17, 2003)
Fast Day Lamenting Breach of Jerusalem
Walls - Fast begins at first morning light. Commemorates the breach
of the walls of Jerusalem by the besieging ancient Romans (Ist century C.E.). Start of 3
week period during which weddings and celebrations are forbidden.
Work Restrictions: No
restrictions on work.
Rosh Chodesh Av
1 Av (July 30, 2003)
Rosh Chodesh Av is always just one day, because the
preceding month, Tammuz, is always "chaser," diminished; that is, it only
contains twenty nine days. The month of Av, on the other hand, is always
"malei," full; that is, it always contains thirty days.
Chodesh Av
1 Av - 30 Av (July 30 - August 28, 2003)
"Chodesh Av," the Month of Av, contains the
saddest day in the Hebrew Calendar, the Ninth of Av, a day on which too many tragedies have befallen
our People for it just to be an accident. In Megillat Eichah, the
Prophet Jeremiah's lamentation over the destruction of Jerusalem, its Temple and its
People, this day is called a "Moed" in the sense of a day marked for tragedy.
We pray that, in our time of blossoming
religious life in the Land of Israel and around the world, we are living in the time that
"Tisha B'Av" will become a "Moed," a "joyous festival," in
the classic, joyful sense of the word, and we will shortly see the fulfillment of the
verse "They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Eichah 3:23)
Fast of Tisha B'Av
9 Av (August 7, 2003)
Fast Day Lamenting Destruction of
Temples - Fast begins prior to
sunset of the previous day and concludes after sunset of
the date indicated above. Anniversary of the destruction of both the
First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, and other Jewish tragedies. Climax of three week
mourning period and, within those weeks, of a more intense nine-day mourning period.
Special mourning customs and prayers.
Work Restrictions: Limited
restrictions work through mid-day.
Rosh Chodesh Elul
(August 28-29, 2003)
The month of repentance and personal
reflection
To be continued...
Important Notes On Observing Jewish Holidays
Jewish Holidays Index
ENJOY YOUR LEARNING!! |