Hebrew Calendar 2024-2025: A Concise Guide to Jewish Holidays and Observances

The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar used by Jews to calculate the dates of religious holidays and observances. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the Sun’s orbit around Earth, the Hebrew calendar is based on both the Sun’s and the Moon’s orbits. This results in a calendar that has both 12 months, like the Gregorian calendar, and an additional month (Adar I) that is added seven times every 19 years.

The Hebrew year begins in the fall, with the month of Tishrei. Tishrei is the month in which the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, occur. The year ends with the month of Elul, which is a time of preparation for the High Holy Days.

In this guide, we will provide an overview of the Hebrew calendar for the years 2024-2025. We will discuss the major Jewish holidays and observances that occur during this time, as well as provide information on the Hebrew calendar’s unique features.

Hebrew Calendar 2024-2025

Unique lunisolar calendar, rich in Jewish tradition.

Begins in fall, month of Tishrei.
Major holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover.
Additional month (Adar I) added seven times in 19 years.
5785-5786 according to Hebrew calendar.
Jewish New Year begins on September 25, 2024.
Passover begins on April 11, 2025.
Shavuot begins on May 25, 2025.
Rosh Hashanah begins on September 14, 2025.
Yom Kippur begins on September 23, 2025.
Sukkot begins on September 28, 2025.

The Hebrew calendar is a dynamic and meaningful system that connects Jewish communities worldwide through shared traditions and observances.

Begins in fall, month of Tishrei.

The Hebrew calendar begins in the fall, with the month of Tishrei. Tishrei is a month of great significance in the Jewish calendar, as it is the month in which the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, occur.

Rosh Hashanah:
Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year,” is the Jewish New Year. It is a two-day holiday that begins on the first day of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and repentance, as well as a time to celebrate the creation of the world.
Yom Kippur:
Yom Kippur, which means “Day of Atonement,” is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and prayer, and a time to seek forgiveness for one’s sins. Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of Tishrei.
Sukkot:
Sukkot, which means “Feast of Tabernacles,” is a seven-day holiday that begins on the fifteenth day of Tishrei. Sukkot is a time to commemorate the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. During Sukkot, Jews build temporary shelters called sukkahs and eat their meals in them.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah:
Shemini Atzeret, which means “Eighth Day of Assembly,” is an eight-day holiday that begins on the twenty-second day of Tishrei. Shemini Atzeret is a time to celebrate the conclusion of the harvest and to pray for rain. Simchat Torah, which means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is a one-day holiday that occurs on the ninth day of Shemini Atzeret. Simchat Torah is a time to celebrate the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings.

Tishrei is a month of great joy and celebration, as well as a time for reflection and repentance. It is a time to come together with family and community to celebrate the Jewish New Year and the other holidays of the month.

Major holidays: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two High Holy Days of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah, which means “head of the year,” is the Jewish New Year. It is a two-day holiday that begins on the first day of Tishrei. Yom Kippur, which means “Day of Atonement,” is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and prayer, and a time to seek forgiveness for one’s sins. Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of Tishrei.

During the High Holy Days, Jews attend synagogue services, reflect on their actions over the past year, and pray for a good year to come. It is a time to come together with family and community to celebrate the New Year and to seek forgiveness for one’s sins.

Passover:

Passover is a seven-day holiday that begins on the fifteenth day of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew spring. Passover commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt. During Passover, Jews eat matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and refrain from eating bread or other foods that contain leavening. Jews also hold a seder, a ritual meal, on the first and second nights of Passover.

Passover is a time to celebrate freedom and liberation, as well as to remember the suffering of the Israelites during their slavery in Egypt. It is a time to come together with family and community to celebrate the Exodus and to reflect on the importance of freedom.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover are three of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. They are a time to celebrate, reflect, and come together with family and community.

Additional month (Adar I) added seven times in 19 years.

The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which means that it is based on both the Sun’s and the Moon’s orbits. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, while the solar year is approximately 365 days long. This means that the Hebrew calendar falls behind the solar calendar by about 11 days each year.

To compensate for this difference, an additional month, called Adar I, is added to the Hebrew calendar seven times in a 19-year cycle. Adar I is a second Adar month, and it is inserted between the months of Shevat and Adar. The year in which Adar I is added is called a leap year.

The Hebrew leap year is determined by a mathematical formula. The formula is based on the fact that 19 solar years are equal to 235 lunar months. This means that if you add an extra month to the Hebrew calendar every 19 years, the calendar will stay in sync with the solar year.

The next Hebrew leap year will be in 2024. Adar I will be added to the calendar between the months of Shevat and Adar, and the year will have a total of 13 months.

The addition of Adar I to the Hebrew calendar is a complex astronomical calculation, but it is an essential part of keeping the calendar in sync with the solar year. It ensures that the Jewish holidays always fall at the same time of year.

5785-5786 according to the Gregorian calendar.

The years 2024-2025 correspond to the years 5785-5786 according to the Gregorian calendar. The conversion of days from the Gregorian calendar to the Jewish calendar is a one-to-one mapping, meaning that a specific date on the Gregorian calendar will always correspond to the same date on the Jewish calendar.

Rosh Hashanah 2024:
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins on the evening of September 25, 2024, and ends on the evening of September 27, 2024.
Yom Kippur 2024:
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins on the evening of October 4, 2024, and ends on the evening of October 5, 2024.
Passover 2025:
Passover begins on the evening of April 11, 2025, and ends on the evening of April 21, 2025.
Shavuot 2025:
Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, begins on the evening of May 25, 2025, and ends on the evening of May 27, 2025.

The Jewish calendar is a rich and complex system that has been used by the Jewish people for centuries. It is a calendar that is based on both the Sun’s and the Moon’s orbits, and it is a calendar that is deeply connected to Jewish history, tradition, and faith.

Jewish New Year begins on September 25, 2024.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar. It is a time to reflect on the past year and to pray for a good year to come. Rosh Hashanah also marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, which culminate with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Rosh Hashanah traditions:
There are many traditional ways to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Some common traditions include attending synagogue services, eating special foods, and spending time with family and friends. Traditional Rosh Hashanah foods include apples and honey, which symbolize a sweet new year. Challah bread, a braided egg bread, is also often served.
Rosh Hashanah greetings:
It is customary to greet people with the Hebrew phrase “Shanah Tovah,” which means “Good Year.” You can also say “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu,” which means “May you be inscribed for a good year.”
Rosh Hashanah in 2024:
In 2024, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 25 and ends on the evening of September 27. The first day of Rosh Hashanah is a public holiday in Israel, and many Jewish communities around the world hold special services and celebrations.
Significance of the Jewish New Year:
The Jewish New Year is a time to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the year to come. It is also a time to celebrate the creation of the world and to thank God for all the blessings in our lives.

Rosh Hashanah is a joyous and meaningful holiday that marks the beginning of a new year in the Jewish calendar. It is a time to come together with family and community to celebrate, reflect, and pray for a good year to come.

Passover begins on April 11, 2025.

Passover is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt, and it is a time to celebrate freedom and liberation.

Passover begins on the fifteenth day of Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew spring. In 2025, Passover begins on the evening of April 11 and ends on the evening of April 21.

During Passover, Jews eat matzah, a type of unleavened bread, and refrain from eating bread or other foods that contain leavening. This is because the Israelites were in such a hurry to leave Egypt that they did not have time to let their bread rise.

Jews also hold a seder, a ritual meal, on the first and second nights of Passover. The seder includes the telling of the Passover story, the eating of symbolic foods, and the drinking of four cups of wine.

Passover is a joyous and meaningful holiday that celebrates freedom and liberation. It is a time to come together with family and community to remember the Exodus from Egypt and to reflect on the importance of freedom.

Shavuot begins on May 25, 2025.

Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. It is also known as the Feast of Weeks, because it occurs seven weeks after Passover.

Shavuot begins on the sixth day of Sivan, the third month of the Hebrew spring. In 2025, Shavuot begins on the evening of May 25 and ends on the evening of May 27.

During Shavuot, Jews celebrate the giving of the Torah by studying Torah and other Jewish texts. It is also customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot, such as cheese, milk, and yogurt. This is because the Torah is likened to milk and honey, which are both sweet and nourishing.

Shavuot is a joyous and meaningful holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah. It is a time to come together with family and community to study Torah and to reflect on the importance of the Torah in Jewish life.

Shavuot is also a time to celebrate the first fruits of the harvest. In ancient Israel, farmers would bring their first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God. Today, Jews celebrate the first fruits of the harvest by eating foods that are in season, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Rosh Hashanah begins on September 14, 2025.

Rosh Hashanah traditions:
There are many traditional ways to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Some common traditions include attending synagogue services, eating special foods, and spending time with family and friends. Traditional Rosh Hashanah foods include apples and honey, which symbolize a sweet new year. Challah bread, a braided egg bread, is also often served.
Rosh Hashanah greetings:
It is customary to greet people with the Hebrew phrase “Shanah Tovah,” which means “Good Year.” You can also say “L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu,” which means “May you be inscribed for a good year.”
Rosh Hashanah in 2025:
In 2025, Rosh Hashanah begins on the evening of September 14 and ends on the evening of September 16. The first day of Rosh Hashanah is a public holiday in Israel, and many Jewish communities around the world hold special services and celebrations.
Significance of the Jewish New Year:
The Jewish New Year is a time to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the year to come. It is also a time to celebrate the creation of the world and to thank God for all the blessings in our lives.

Yom Kippur begins on September 23, 2025.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of fasting and prayer, and a time to seek forgiveness for one’s sins.

Yom Kippur begins on the tenth day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In 2025, Yom Kippur begins on the evening of September 23 and ends on the evening of September 24.

During Yom Kippur, Jews attend synagogue services, pray, and fast for 25 hours. The fast begins at sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur and ends at nightfall the following day. Yom Kippur is a solemn and reflective holiday, and it is a time to come together with family and community to seek forgiveness and to start the new year with a clean slate.

Yom Kippur is also a time to reflect on the past year and to make amends for any wrongs that one has committed. It is customary to ask forgiveness from anyone whom one has wronged, and to make a commitment to change one’s behavior in the future.

Yom Kippur is a challenging but meaningful holiday. It is a day to come together with family and community to seek forgiveness, to reflect on the past year, and to start the new year with a clean slate.

Sukkot begins on September 28, 2025.

Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. It is also a time to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives.

Sukkot traditions:
There are many traditional ways to celebrate Sukkot. Some common traditions include building a sukkah, a temporary shelter, and eating meals in it. Sukkot is also a time to eat special foods, such as etrog and lulav, which are symbolic of the harvest.
Sukkot greetings:
It is customary to greet people with the Hebrew phrase “Chag Sameach Sukkot,” which means “Happy Holiday of Sukkot.” You can also say “Mo’adim l’Simcha,” which means “May your holidays be joyful.”
Sukkot in 2025:
In 2025, Sukkot begins on the evening of September 28 and ends on the evening of October 6. The first day of Sukkot is a public holiday in Israel, and many Jewish communities around the world hold special services and celebrations.
Significance of Sukkot:
Sukkot is a time to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives. It is also a time to remember the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert and to reflect on the importance of faith and perseverance.

Sukkot is a joyous and meaningful holiday that celebrates the harvest and gives thanks to God. It is a time to come together with family and community to celebrate, reflect, and rejoice in the blessings of life.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Hebrew Calendar in 2024:

Question 1: When does the Jewish year 5785 begin?
Answer 1: The Jewish year 5785 begins on the evening of September 25, 2023, and ends on the evening of September 13, 2024.

Question 2: When is Rosh Hashanah in 2024?
Answer 2: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins on the evening of September 25, 2024, and ends on the evening of September 27, 2024.

Question 3: When is Yom Kippur in 2024?
Answer 3: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins on the evening of October 4, 2024, and ends on the evening of October 5, 2024.

Question 4: When is Passover in 2024?
Answer 4: Passover begins on the evening of April 15, 2024, and ends on the evening of April 23, 2024.

Question 5: When is Shavuot in 2024?
Answer 5: Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, begins on the evening of May 25, 2024, and ends on the evening of May 27, 2024.

Question 6: When is Sukkot in 2024?
Answer 6: Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, begins on the evening of October 1, 2024, and ends on the evening of October 9, 2024.

Question 7: Is there a leap year in the Hebrew calendar in 2024?
Answer 7: No, there is no leap year in the Hebrew calendar in 2024.

We hope this FAQ has answered some of your questions about the Hebrew Calendar in 2024.

For more information about the Hebrew Calendar, please visit the official website of the Hebrew Calendar Authority: https://www.hebcal.com/.

Tips

Here are a few tips for observing the Hebrew Calendar in 2024:

Tip 1: Use a Hebrew calendar.
A Hebrew calendar will help you to keep track of the Jewish holidays and festivals throughout the year. You can find Hebrew calendars online or at your local synagogue.

Tip 2: Learn about the Jewish holidays.
There are many resources available to help you learn about the Jewish holidays. You can find books, articles, and websites that provide information about the history, traditions, and rituals of each holiday.

Tip 3: Attend synagogue services.
Synagogue services are a great way to celebrate the Jewish holidays and to connect with your Jewish community. If you are not already a member of a synagogue, you can find a list of synagogues in your area online or by contacting your local Jewish community center.

Tip 4: Cook traditional Jewish foods.
There are many delicious traditional Jewish foods that you can prepare for the Jewish holidays. You can find recipes online or in cookbooks. Cooking traditional Jewish foods is a great way to celebrate the holiday and to share your culture with others.

We hope these tips help you to celebrate the Jewish holidays in 2024 and to learn more about the Hebrew Calendar.

For more information about the Hebrew Calendar and the Jewish holidays, please visit the official website of the Hebrew Calendar Authority: https://www.hebcal.com/.

Conclusion

The Hebrew Calendar is a rich and complex system that has been used by the Jewish people for centuries. It is a calendar that is based on both the Sun’s and the Moon’s orbits, and it is a calendar that is deeply connected to Jewish history, tradition, and faith.

The year 2024 is a significant year in the Hebrew Calendar. It is the beginning of a new 19-year cycle, and it is a year in which there will be an additional month, Adar I, added to the calendar. This means that there will be 13 months in the year 2024, instead of the usual 12.

The year 2024 is also a year in which some of the most important Jewish holidays will occur. These holidays include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. These holidays are a time to celebrate, reflect, and come together with family and community.

We hope that this article has helped you to learn more about the Hebrew Calendar and the Jewish holidays in 2024. We encourage you to learn more about the Hebrew Calendar and to celebrate the Jewish holidays in your own way.

Wishing you all a happy and meaningful year in 2024!