Or HaZeev
Festivals & Special Days
The festivals, fasts and special Shabbatot of the year, in calendar order.
For each day: a summary, its mitzvot, its origin in history, its message for today, the Torah and haftara readings of each day (and why they were chosen), and a family quiz. Print-ready.
Tishrei
Festivals Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה The Jewish New Year, the day of Judgment and of crowning God as King: two days of shofar, prayer and sweetness to step into the year. 1–2 Tishrei 5788 · 2–3 October 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Shuva שבת שובה The Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a Shabbat of return, named after its haftara: "Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God". 8 Tishrei 5788 · 9 October 2027
Fasts Fast of Gedaliah צום גדליה The fast of 3 Tishrei: remembering the murder of Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the last hope of the remnant in Judah, and a lesson on the value of unity. 3 Tishrei 5788 · 4 October 2027
Fasts Yom Kippur יום כיפור Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement: a day of fasting, prayer and return, on which the people's sins are forgiven and we stand before God "like angels". 10 Tishrei 5788 · 11 October 2027
Festivals Sukkot סוכות Sukkot: seven days in the shade of the sukkah, the four species, and the joy of the "season of our rejoicing". 15–20 Tishrei 5788 · 16–21 October 2027
Festivals Hoshana Rabbah הושענא רבה The seventh day of Sukkot, the seal of the day of judgment: seven circuits, the beating of the willows and a night of study and prayer. 21 Tishrei 5788 · 22 October 2027
Festivals Shemini Atzeret שמיני עצרת The eighth day, "Atzeret": an intimate day of farewell after Sukkot, with the prayer for rain and Yizkor. 22 Tishrei 5788 · 23 October 2027
Festivals Simchat Torah שמחת תורה The festival of finishing the Torah and starting it again: hakafot, dancing, the Chatan Torah and the Chatan Bereshit. 23 Tishrei 5788 · 24 October 2027
Cheshvan, Kislev & Tevet
Other Rosh Chodesh ראש חודש Rosh Chodesh: the start of each Hebrew month, a day of renewal and of women, set by the new moon. 30 Cheshvan – 1 Kislev 5787 · 10–11 November 2026
National days Sigd סיגד Sigd: the festival of Ethiopian Jewry on 29 Cheshvan, a day of fasting, prayer and renewal of the covenant, and of longing for Jerusalem. 29 Cheshvan 5787 · 9 November 2026
Festivals Hanukkah חנוכה Hanukkah: eight days of light, in memory of the Maccabean victory and the rededication of the Temple, and of the miracle of the jar of oil. 25 Kislev – 2 Tevet 5787 · 5–12 December 2026
Fasts Tenth of Tevet עשרה בטבת The fast of 10 Tevet: the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem that led to the destruction of the First Temple, and the Kaddish day in Israel. 10 Tevet 5787 · 20 December 2026
Shevat & Adar
Festivals Tu BiShvat ט״ו בשבט 15 Shevat: the New Year of the trees, a day of fruit, planting and renewing the bond between people and the land. 15 Shevat 5787 · 23 January 2027
Other Seudat Yitro סעודת יתרו On the Thursday of the week of Yitro, the communities of Algeria (Tlemcen, Constantine…) and later Tunisia gather for a festive meal recalling the giving of the Torah. It is also called Seudat Siyum or Seudat Moshe. 20 Shevat 5787 · 28 January 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Shirah שבת שירה The Shabbat of Song: the Song of the Sea and the Song of Deborah, the custom of feeding the birds and Perek Shira. 15 Shevat 5787 · 23 January 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Shekalim שבת שקלים The first of the four special Shabbatot: the half-shekel, equality among all, and the road toward Purim and Pesach. 27 Adar I 5787 · 6 March 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Zachor שבת זכור The Shabbat before Purim: "Remember what Amalek did to you", and the root of the struggle that reached Haman. 11 Adar II 5787 · 20 March 2027
Fasts Fast of Esther תענית אסתר The fast of 13 Adar: a remembrance of the fast of Esther and the Jews before she went to the king. 13 Adar II 5787 · 22 March 2027
Festivals Purim פורים 14 Adar: the Book of Esther, victory over Haman, and the great joy of the year, with the four mitzvot of the day. 14 Adar II 5787 · 23 March 2027
Festivals Shushan Purim שושן פורים 15 Adar: Purim of Jerusalem and the walled cities, and "Shushan Purim" everywhere else. 15 Adar II 5787 · 24 March 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Parah שבת פרה The Shabbat after Purim: the red heifer and purification before the Pesach offering. 18 Adar II 5787 · 27 March 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat HaChodesh שבת החודש The Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nisan: "This month shall be for you the head of months", the first mitzvah given to the nation. 25 Adar II 5787 · 3 April 2027
Nisan
Special Shabbatot Shabbat HaGadol שבת הגדול The Shabbat before Pesach: "the Great Shabbat", a sermon on the laws of the festival, and the haftara about the coming of the great day of the Lord. 10 Nisan 5787 · 17 April 2027
Fasts Fast of the Firstborn תענית בכורות The fast of 14 Nisan, the eve of Pesach: the fast of the firstborn, remembering their rescue in the plague of the firstborn, and the siyum that exempts from it. 14 Nisan 5787 · 21 April 2027
Festivals Passover פסח 15-21 Nisan (22 in the diaspora): the festival of freedom, the Seder night, matzah and the Exodus from Egypt. 15–22 Nisan 5787 · 22–29 April 2027
Other The Omer ספירת העומר Counting forty-nine days from Pesach to Shavuot: a mitzvah, a preparation for receiving the Torah, and days of partial mourning. 16 Nisan – 5 Sivan 5787 · 23 April 2027 – 10 June 2027
Iyar & Sivan
National days Yom HaShoah יום השואה 27 Nisan: the day of remembrance for the Shoah and heroism, with the siren, candles and remembrance of every community. 27 Nisan 5787 · 4 May 2027
National days Yom HaZikaron יום הזיכרון 4 Iyar: Remembrance Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, sirens, ceremonies and Psalms, followed immediately by Independence Day. 4 Iyar 5787 · 11 May 2027
National days Yom HaAtzmaut יום העצמאות 5 Iyar: Independence Day of the State of Israel, Hallel, thanksgiving, and readings about freedom and the Land. 5 Iyar 5787 · 12 May 2027
Other Pesach Sheni פסח שני 14 Iyar: the second chance for those who were impure or far away, and the people's cry "why should we be diminished?" 14 Iyar 5787 · 21 May 2027
Festivals Lag BaOmer ל״ג בעומר 18 Iyar: the hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the end of the plague among Rabbi Akiva's students, bonfires and joy. 18 Iyar 5787 · 25 May 2027
National days Jerusalem Day יום ירושלים 28 Iyar: the reunification of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War, Hallel, the Flag Dance and Psalm 122. 28 Iyar 5787 · 4 June 2027
Festivals Shavuot שבועות 6-7 Sivan: the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the Ten Commandments, the Book of Ruth, the night of study and the bringing of first fruits. 6–7 Sivan 5787 · 11–12 June 2027
Tamuz, Av & Elul
Fasts 17th of Tammuz י״ז בתמוז The fast of 17 Tamuz: the breaching of Jerusalem's walls, five calamities, and the start of the Three Weeks. 17 Tamuz 5787 · 22 July 2027
Other The Three Weeks בין המצרים The Three Weeks from 17 Tamuz to 9 Av: days of mourning for the destruction, the "Nine Days" and the haftarot of rebuke. 17 Tamuz – 9 Av 5787 · 22 July 2027 – 12 August 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Chazon שבת חזון The Shabbat before Tisha BeAv: "The vision of Isaiah", the last rebuke before the destruction, and the final meal before the fast. 4 Av 5787 · 7 August 2027
Fasts Tisha B'Av תשעה באב The Ninth of Av: fast and mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the sorrows of the Jewish people, Lamentations, kinot and consolation. 9 Av 5787 · 12 August 2027
Special Shabbatot Shabbat Nachamu שבת נחמו The Shabbat after Tisha BeAv: "Comfort, comfort My people", the start of the seven haftarot of consolation until Rosh Hashanah. 11 Av 5787 · 14 August 2027
Festivals Tu B'Av ט״ו באב 15 Av: the day of love, harmony between the tribes and the end of the desert decree, "there were no better days for Israel than 15 Av". 15 Av 5787 · 18 August 2027
Other The month of Elul חודש אלול The month of Elul: forty days of repentance before Rosh Hashanah, the shofar, Selichot and "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine". 1–29 Elul 5787 · 3 September 2027 – 1 October 2027
Other Selichot סליחות Selichot: prayers of supplication before Rosh Hashanah, the thirteen attributes of mercy, and preparation for the Day of Judgment. 23 Elul 5787 · 25 September 2027
A reminder before each festival?
The summary, mitzvot and readings of the festival, in your inbox just before it arrives.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.