Jewish Holidays 2012 Calendar

Excluding the holidays on which people fast, these holidays usually begin at dusk a day prior to the actual holiday. The ‘fast’holidays begin on the same date of the festival. New Year for the Jewish people is in the month

of September – October. It is, known as Rosh Hashana.

Significance of Jewish holidays

Tu B’Shevat

This is the time when blooming trees in Israel start their fruit bearing cycle once again. In other words, they emerge from their sleep in winter. It is also known as the “New Year for Trees”.

Purim

Purim is a one of the most celebrated and joyous of all Jewish holidays marked in Jewish calendar. On this day, the Jewish people were able to defend themselves against a conspiracy planned out by Haman the Agagite.

Ta anit Esther

Although this is not included in one of the 4 major fasts, it is observed to commemorate the fast of Esther and Mordechai.

Shavuot

Shavuot is also known as Festival of Weeks. It is a 2 day festival.

Simchat Torah

The meaning of Simchat Torah is “Rejoicing” in Torah. It marks the end of weekly Torah readings that take place on a yearly cycle.

hemini Atzeret

It is also known as “Assembly of 8th day”. The festival is celebrated together with Simchat Torah in Israel.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is a festival that lasts for 2 days. It is the day when Israelis observe their New Year. Work is not allowed on these 2 days.

Yom Kippur

It is considered as the most solemn day in Jewish year. It is also referred to as the Day of Atonement.

Sukkot

Sukkot is also known as Feast of Tabernacles. The festival lasts for 7 days. It is celebrated to commemorate the period when God took special care of the Jews when they were traveling to Promised Land. Work is permitted on the last 5 days but not on the first 2 days.

The table below highlights Jewish Holidays 2012 calendar.

Jewish holidays	Occasion
January 5th	Fast of Tevet 10
February 8th	Tu B’Shevat
March 7th	Ta’anit Esther
March 7th Sunset to March 8th sunset	Purim
Shushan Purim	March 9th
Passover	Nightfall of April 6th to nightfall of April 14th
Second Passover	May 6th
Lag B’Omer	May 10th
Shavuot	Sunset of May 26th to nightfall of May 28th
Fast of Tammuz of 17th	July 7th
Fast of Tish ‘a B Av	Sunset of July 28th to nightfall of July 29th
Rosh Hashanah	Sunset of September 16th – nightfall of September 18th
Fast of Gedaliah	September 19th
Yom Kippur	Sunset of September 25th to nightfall of September 26th
Sukkot	Sunset of September 30th to sunset of October 6th
Hoshanah Rabbah	October 7th
Shemini Atzaret	Sunset of October 7th to nightfall of October 8th
Simchat Torah	Nightfall of October 8th to nightfall of October 9th
Chanukah	Sunset of December 8th to December 16th

Holidays 2011
Jewish Holidays 2011	Federal Holidays 2011