Jewish Holidays in 2019

Jewish Holidays and Festivals. Explanations, observances, study, guide and multimedia to all major and minor Jewish holidays and fast days.

15 ShevatMonday, January 21, 2019 Work permitted The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees.

Purim Begins sunset of  Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Thursday, March 21, 2019 Work should be avoided.
Consult a Rabbi if this is not possible.

• Ta’anit Esther – March 20, 2019
• Shushan Purim – March 22, 2019

Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia.

Passover Begins sunset of  Friday, April 19, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Saturday, April 27, 2019 No work permitted on April 20 – 21 and April 26 – 27. Work is permitted only on April 22 – 25 with certain restrictions. Yizkor is recited on Passover, Saturday, April 27 Passover (Pesach) celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Our Passover megasite has tools, guides, insights, stories, inspiration—and just about everything you need to celebrate Passover. (But bring your own wine.)

Second PassoverSunday, May 19, 2019 Work permitted Thirty days ago we cleaned our homes and souls of leaven, and matzahed our way through the week-long festival of Passover. And now, Pesach Sheni—a Second Passover!

Lag B’OmerThursday, May 23, 2019 Work permitted

• Sefirat HaOmer – April 20 – June 8, 2019

The birthday of Jewish mysticism . . . The spiritual significance of the bow and arrow . . . Can love be true, and can truth be loving? . . . What is Kabbalah?

Shavuot Begins sunset of  Saturday, June 8, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Monday, June 10, 2019 No work is permitted Yizkor is recited on Shavuot, Monday, June 10 Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The Ten Commandments are read in synagogues, just as they were in the desert on Mt. Sinai over 3,300 years ago.

The Three WeeksSaturday, July 20, 2019  through  Sunday, August 11, 2019 Work permitted, except Shabbat

• Fast of the 17th of Tammuz – July 21, 2019
• Fast of Tish’a B’Av – August 10 – 11, 2019

The “Three Weeks” and Tisha B’Av are designated as a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the galut (exile).

The 15th of AvFriday, August 16, 2019 Work permitted Our sages proclaimed the 15th of Av as one of the two greatest festivals of the year, yet they ordained no special observances or celebrations for it . . .

Rosh Hashanah Begins sunset of  Sunday, September 29, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Tuesday, October 1, 2019 No work is permitted.

• The Month of Elul – September 1 – 29, 2019
• Fast of Gedaliah – October 2, 2019

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.

Yom Kippur Begins sunset of  Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Wednesday, October 9, 2019 No work is permitted. Yizkor is recited on Yom Kippur, Wednesday, October 9 Virtually everything you need to know about Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar: How-To Guides, Essays and Insights, Prayer Service Overviews, Stories, Multimedia, and much more!

Sukkot Begins sunset of  Sunday, October 13, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Sunday, October 20, 2019 No work permitted on October 14 – 15. Work is permitted on October 16 – 18 and October 20 with certain restrictions..

• Hoshanah Rabbah – October 20, 2019

Virtually everything you need to know about the holiday of Sukkot: How-To Guides, Essays and Insights, Recipes, Stories, Multimedia, and much more!

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Begins sunset of  Sunday, October 20, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Tuesday, October 22, 2019 No work is permitted Yizkor is recited on Shemini Atzeret, Monday, October 21 Virtually everything you need to know about the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah: How-To Guides, Essays and Insights, Recipes, Stories, Multimedia, and much more!

Chanukah Begins sunset of  Sunday, December 22, 2019
Ends nightfall of  Monday, December 30, 2019 Work permitted, except Shabbat Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying mighty Greek armies.