Jewish Holidays Calendar 2014
Jewish traditions uphold a number of festivals that are spread over the year. These observances are revered by the Jews all over the world and are celebrated with diligence and sincerity. The history of the origin of the Jewish Festivals can be traced back to three sources -
Biblical passages – texts that commemorate the Jewish rites, observances and beliefs (mitzvah).
Rabbinic Rules – the commandments that are integral part of the mainstream Judaism and are attached special significance.
Israeli Connection – the tradition, history and customs of Israel that form the foundation stone of Jewish rites and observances as well.
A special characteristic of Jewish Festivals is that they begin as evening commences on the previous day and continue till the evening of the following day. It is considered auspicious to begin a ceremony post sunset. This is because, according to Jewish traditions, ea day begins and ends only when the sun goes down. Another unique feature of Jewish Holidays is that in some of them an observant Jewish person is strictly prohibited from working, while in some others they are allowed to carry on with the daily rigors of professional life.
The Jewish people follow the Hebrew calendar which is a luni-solar calendar to mark their religious and traditional observances. This calendar is different from the modern day Gregorian calendar. As such when the Jewish Holidays and observances are plotted in the Gregorian calendar the dates keep varying from one year to the next. Below mentioned are the dates of Jewish Holidays for the year 2014 according to the Gregorian calendar –
Dates in 2014
Jewish Festival
January 16 (Thursday) Tu B'Shevat
March 13 (Thursday) Ta'anit Esther
Evening of March 15 (Saturday) - Evening of March 16 (Sunday) Purim
March 17 (Monday) Shushan Purim
April 14 (Monday) Ta'anit Bechorot
Evening of April 14 (Monday) - Evening of April 22 (Tuesday) Passover
Evening of April 27 (Sunday) - Evening of Yom HaShoah
April 28 (Monday) to May 4 (Sunday) Yom Hazikaron
Evening of May 5 (Monday) - Evening of May 6 (Tuesday) Yom HaAtzmaut
May 14 (Wednesday) Second Passover
May 18 (Sunday) Lag B'Omer
May 28 (Wednesday) Yom Yerushalayim
Evening of June 3 (Tuesday) - Evening of June 5 (Thursday) Shavuot
July 15 (Tuesday) 17th of Tammuz
Evening of August 5 (Tuesday) Tish'a B'Av
Evening of September 24 (Wednesday) - Rosh Hashanah
Evening of September 26 (Friday) to September 28 (Sunday) Gedaliah
Evening of October 3 (Friday) - Evening of October 4 (Saturday) Yom Kippur
Evening of October 8 (Wednesday) - Evening of October 15 (Wednesday) Sukkot
October 15 (Wednesday) Hoshanah Rabbah
Evening of October 15 (Wednesday) - Evening of October 16 (Thursday) Shemini Atzeret
Evening of October 16 (Thursday) - Evening of October 17 (Friday) Simchat Torah
Evening of December 16 (Tuesday) - Evening of December 24 (Wednesday) Hanukkah/ Chanukkah
January 1, 2015 (Thursday) Tevet 10 (Asarah Be’Tevet)
Tu B'Shevat: Literally the word means “New Year For The Trees”, Tu B’Shevat is a time that upholds man’s deep connection with nature and it is recommended to bond with nature during this time by planting trees, eating fruits and vegetables that grow on trees, and partaking of the Tu B’Shevat Seder. Officially, this marks the advent of Spring in Israel, and is also the time to calculate the harvest tithes, a portion of which is donated to the poor.
Ta'anit Esther: Commencing on the thirteenth day of the Hebrew month of ‘Adar’, Ta’nit Esther is a minor fast that is observed by a pious Jew from sunrise to sunset. It is allowed to work on this day. It occurs before Purim.
Purim: The origin Purim can be traced back to the Biblical Book of Esther. This day is especially significant for it marks the defeat of a conspiracy to kill the Jewish people. In essence, the celebrations relate to reversal of fate. This festival is full of fun and gaiety. People dress up for the occasion. Feasting is also a custom. It is considered auspicious to donate to charity on this occasion.
Shushan Purim: Referred to in the Megillah readings this one is celebrated mainly by elaborate feasting. The custom includes sharing meals with family and friends.
Ta'anit Bechorot: This is a unique observance that takes place on the day before Passover. This minor fast generally falls on fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. In this, the first born Jewish males abstain from any food or drink, not even water.
Passover: The mythological or religious reference of Passover can be found in the story of Exodus. The Jewish people believe that on this day God “passed over” homes in Israel, and as He did so he freed the Jewish people from being slaves in ancient Egypt. Rigorous spring cleaning makes homes sparkle while a ritualistic feast (Seder) makes mealtime special.
Yom HaShoah: Literally translated Yom HaShoah means “The Day to remember Holocaust and Heroism”. Many Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust that was carried out in Germany by the Nazis. This day commemorates their martyrdom and is honored as a National memorial day when Jews pay homage to the martyrs.
Yom Hazikaron: It is the day before the Israeli Independence Day. This is the day on which Jews remember those martyrs who sacrificed their lives to bring independence to the country of Israel. The entire Nation observes a two minute standstill the beginning and end of which are marked by sirens. On this day all public entertainment avenues are closed.
Biblical passages – texts that commemorate the Jewish rites, observances and beliefs (mitzvah).
Rabbinic Rules – the commandments that are integral part of the mainstream Judaism and are attached special significance.
Israeli Connection – the tradition, history and customs of Israel that form the foundation stone of Jewish rites and observances as well.
A special characteristic of Jewish Festivals is that they begin as evening commences on the previous day and continue till the evening of the following day. It is considered auspicious to begin a ceremony post sunset. This is because, according to Jewish traditions, ea day begins and ends only when the sun goes down. Another unique feature of Jewish Holidays is that in some of them an observant Jewish person is strictly prohibited from working, while in some others they are allowed to carry on with the daily rigors of professional life.
The Jewish people follow the Hebrew calendar which is a luni-solar calendar to mark their religious and traditional observances. This calendar is different from the modern day Gregorian calendar. As such when the Jewish Holidays and observances are plotted in the Gregorian calendar the dates keep varying from one year to the next. Below mentioned are the dates of Jewish Holidays for the year 2014 according to the Gregorian calendar –
Dates in 2014
Jewish Festival
January 16 (Thursday) Tu B'Shevat
March 13 (Thursday) Ta'anit Esther
Evening of March 15 (Saturday) - Evening of March 16 (Sunday) Purim
March 17 (Monday) Shushan Purim
April 14 (Monday) Ta'anit Bechorot
Evening of April 14 (Monday) - Evening of April 22 (Tuesday) Passover
Evening of April 27 (Sunday) - Evening of Yom HaShoah
April 28 (Monday) to May 4 (Sunday) Yom Hazikaron
Evening of May 5 (Monday) - Evening of May 6 (Tuesday) Yom HaAtzmaut
May 14 (Wednesday) Second Passover
May 18 (Sunday) Lag B'Omer
May 28 (Wednesday) Yom Yerushalayim
Evening of June 3 (Tuesday) - Evening of June 5 (Thursday) Shavuot
July 15 (Tuesday) 17th of Tammuz
Evening of August 5 (Tuesday) Tish'a B'Av
Evening of September 24 (Wednesday) - Rosh Hashanah
Evening of September 26 (Friday) to September 28 (Sunday) Gedaliah
Evening of October 3 (Friday) - Evening of October 4 (Saturday) Yom Kippur
Evening of October 8 (Wednesday) - Evening of October 15 (Wednesday) Sukkot
October 15 (Wednesday) Hoshanah Rabbah
Evening of October 15 (Wednesday) - Evening of October 16 (Thursday) Shemini Atzeret
Evening of October 16 (Thursday) - Evening of October 17 (Friday) Simchat Torah
Evening of December 16 (Tuesday) - Evening of December 24 (Wednesday) Hanukkah/ Chanukkah
January 1, 2015 (Thursday) Tevet 10 (Asarah Be’Tevet)
Tu B'Shevat: Literally the word means “New Year For The Trees”, Tu B’Shevat is a time that upholds man’s deep connection with nature and it is recommended to bond with nature during this time by planting trees, eating fruits and vegetables that grow on trees, and partaking of the Tu B’Shevat Seder. Officially, this marks the advent of Spring in Israel, and is also the time to calculate the harvest tithes, a portion of which is donated to the poor.
Ta'anit Esther: Commencing on the thirteenth day of the Hebrew month of ‘Adar’, Ta’nit Esther is a minor fast that is observed by a pious Jew from sunrise to sunset. It is allowed to work on this day. It occurs before Purim.
Purim: The origin Purim can be traced back to the Biblical Book of Esther. This day is especially significant for it marks the defeat of a conspiracy to kill the Jewish people. In essence, the celebrations relate to reversal of fate. This festival is full of fun and gaiety. People dress up for the occasion. Feasting is also a custom. It is considered auspicious to donate to charity on this occasion.
Shushan Purim: Referred to in the Megillah readings this one is celebrated mainly by elaborate feasting. The custom includes sharing meals with family and friends.
Ta'anit Bechorot: This is a unique observance that takes place on the day before Passover. This minor fast generally falls on fourteenth day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. In this, the first born Jewish males abstain from any food or drink, not even water.
Passover: The mythological or religious reference of Passover can be found in the story of Exodus. The Jewish people believe that on this day God “passed over” homes in Israel, and as He did so he freed the Jewish people from being slaves in ancient Egypt. Rigorous spring cleaning makes homes sparkle while a ritualistic feast (Seder) makes mealtime special.
Yom HaShoah: Literally translated Yom HaShoah means “The Day to remember Holocaust and Heroism”. Many Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust that was carried out in Germany by the Nazis. This day commemorates their martyrdom and is honored as a National memorial day when Jews pay homage to the martyrs.
Yom Hazikaron: It is the day before the Israeli Independence Day. This is the day on which Jews remember those martyrs who sacrificed their lives to bring independence to the country of Israel. The entire Nation observes a two minute standstill the beginning and end of which are marked by sirens. On this day all public entertainment avenues are closed.
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