Hebrew Calendar
The lunisolar calendar used to determine Jewish religious holidays and observances
About the Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar used predominantly for Jewish religious observances. It determines the dates for Jewish holidays, the appropriate public reading of Torah portions, yahrzeits (memorial dates), and daily Psalm readings. The calendar has been in use since ancient times and follows both lunar and solar cycles.
🌙 Key Features
- Lunisolar System - Months follow moon phases, years sync with solar year
- 12 or 13 months - Leap years add Adar II to stay aligned with seasons
- 29 or 30 days per month - Alternating between full and deficient months
- Week starts on Sunday - Shabbat (Sabbath) is Saturday
- 19-year cycle - 7 leap years in every 19-year period
📅 The Hebrew Months
- Nisan (30 days) - First month of religious year, Passover month
- Iyar (29 days) - Second month
- Sivan (30 days) - Month of Shavuot
- Tammuz (29 days) - Summer month
- Av (30 days) - Month of mourning
- Elul (29 days) - Month of preparation for High Holy Days
- Tishrei (30 days) - First month of civil year, Rosh Hashanah
- Cheshvan (29/30 days) - Can vary in length
- Kislev (29/30 days) - Month of Hanukkah
- Tevet (29 days) - Winter month
- Shevat (30 days) - Month of Tu BiShvat
- Adar (29 days) - Month of Purim
- Adar II (29 days) - Added in leap years
🎉 Major Jewish Holidays
- Rosh Hashanah (1-2 Tishrei) - Jewish New Year
- Yom Kippur (10 Tishrei) - Day of Atonement, holiest day
- Sukkot (15-21 Tishrei) - Festival of Booths
- Simchat Torah (23 Tishrei) - Rejoicing with the Torah
- Hanukkah (25 Kislev - 2/3 Tevet) - Festival of Lights
- Tu BiShvat (15 Shevat) - New Year of the Trees
- Purim (14 Adar) - Celebrates deliverance from Haman
- Passover (Pesach) (15-22 Nisan) - Exodus from Egypt
- Shavuot (6 Sivan) - Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
⏰ Shabbat (Sabbath)
Shabbat is observed from Friday evening at sunset until Saturday evening when three stars appear in the sky. It is a day of rest and spiritual enrichment, commemorating God's rest after the six days of Creation. Shabbat is considered the most important Jewish observance.
🌍 Historical Significance
The Hebrew calendar is believed to have originated in biblical times, with refinements made during the Talmudic era. The current fixed calendar was established by Hillel II around 359 CE. The calendar counts years from the traditional date of Creation, calculated as 3761 BCE in the Gregorian calendar.