The Jewish Months

The following is a list of the months with their holidays: (Please note that the descriptions of the holidays given here are very brief.)

1. Nisan
   • Pesach (Passover) - anniversary of the exodus from Egypt. It is eight days long (seven in Israel).
   • Sefiras HaOmer (the counting of the Omer) begins on the second day of Pesach.
2. Iyar
   • Sefiras HaOmer continues.
3. Sivan
   • Sefiras HaOmer ends.
   • Shavuos - anniversary of the giving of the Torah. Two days long (one in Israel).
4. Tamuz
   • The fast of Shiva Asar b'Tamuz (the seventeenth of Tamuz). Among other things, this is the day that the Romans breached the wall of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem).
   • A three week period of mourning begins now.
5. Av
   • The final nine days of mourning are intensified.
   • The fast of Tisha b'Av (the ninth of Av). This is the day, among other things, that both the first and the second Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) were destroyed.
6. Elul
   • As the month preceding Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, the month of Elul is largely devoted to repentance.
   • The shofar is blown at the end of morning prayers every weekday.
   • About a week before Rosh HaShana it is customary to begin saying Selichos, special prayers of repentance, before the morning prayers.
7. Tishrei
   • Rosh HaShana - The new year. This is also the day of judgment for mankind. It lasts for two days both in and out of Israel.
   • Tzom Gedalyah (The Fast of Gedalyah) - This is the day that the Babylonian appointed governor, Gedalyah ben Achikam was assassinated. In reprisal the Babylonians exiled the last remainder of Jewish people living in the land of Israel.
   • Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement. We fast and spend the day in intense prayer, begging forgiveness for our sins.
   • Sukkos (Tabernacles) - An eight day holiday (seven in Israel). We are required to eat our meals in sukkos - specially constructed sheds. We also have the mitzva to shake the Four Species of plants. Sukkos is immediately followed by
   • Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah - the day of rejoicing with the Torah. A two day holiday (one in Israel). We celebrate the completion of the yearly cycle of reading from the Torah.
8. Cheshvan
   • no holidays or fast days.
9. Kislev
   • The eight day holiday of Chanuka is celebrated. We light the menorah each night, adding one candle from the night before.
10. Teves
    • The fast of Asara b'Teves (the Tenth of Teves). On this day Nebuchadnezzar began the siege of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) which ultimately led to the first exile.
11. Shevat
    • Tu' B'Shevat (the Fifteenth of Shevat). A very minor holiday. This is the "New Year" for trees. This has legal ramifications for the laws of tithing and other laws of agriculture. There is a custom to eat fruits on this day.
12. Adar 1 & 2
    • In the event of a leap year we add an additional month here. The second Adar is the one in which Purim is celebrated.
    • Purim - A day of great rejoicing in memory of the salvation of the Jews in the Persian Empire. The events commemorated by Purim are described in the Biblical Book of Esther.