holiday calendar 2011 20 eng

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Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee45 O’Connor Street

Suite 730Ottawa, Ontario K1P 1A4Telephone: (613) 233-8703; fax: (613) 233-8748

www.cjccc.ca

Canadian Jewish Congress/

CJC Charities Committee

JEWISH

HOLIDAYS

2011-2011-2011-2011-2011-20202020202020202020



THE CALENDAR

The Jewish calendar is luni-solar in construction; thus, holy days which occur

on specific dates in the various Hebrew months will occur on different dates in the

civil (Gregorian) calendar from year to year. The chart below and calendars of holy

days which appear in the following pages illustrate this phenomenon.

HOLY DAYS

A wide variety of feasts and fasts grace the Jewish year. These special days mark

significant events in the spiritual and historical life of the Jewish community, from

Biblical times onward. In all cases, holy days are marked by special synagogue servicesand celebration in the home. In some cases, our tradition requires a complete

interruption of the normal routine such that one may not work or attend school, while

in others, the normal routine may be followed. The descriptions which follow will

identify into which of these two categories a holy day falls.

* * *

SHABBAT (SABBATH)

The most regularly occurring of the Jewish holy days is the Sabbath. Commencing

at dusk on Friday evening and ending after dark on Saturday night, the Sabbath is

a particularly special day in the Jewish week. In the tradition, it is understood to be

a day set aside for appreciation of creation. It is a day for godly reflection and for

abstaining from any involvement in creative processes. Traditional Jews observe the

Depicted on the front cover is a spicebox, part of a pleasant and colourful ceremony,

the “Havdalah,” which marks the end of the Sabbath and certain holidays.

M

O

N

T

H

S Tishrei ............September-October

Cheshvan .......October-November

Kislev .............. November-December

Tevet ...............December-January

Shevat ............January-FebruaryAdar ................February-March

Nisan ............... March-April

Iyar .................. April-M ay

Sivan ..............May-June

Tammuz .........June-July

Av .................... July-August

Elu l .................August-September

HEBREW GREGORIAN



Sabbath through special home rituals and synagogue services. In practical terms, it

is a day when attendance at work or school and participation in the very worldly

concerns of business of any sort are prohibited.

ROSH HASHANAH (NEW YEAR)

YOM KIPPUR (DAY OF ATONEMENT)

The Jewish New Year occurs in the autumn as the year’s harvest comes to an end.

This two-day holiday is most specifically a time for reflection and self-assessment for

the community and for individuals. The process of self-assessment is directed at

attaining a greater awareness of how to be a truly good person, doing the best for one’s

self and for humanity. It is a time for promoting universal peace and well-being. It

is, as well, a period of joyous celebration of creation. As such, the New Year period

has both solemn and joyous aspects.

This process of self-assessment and reflection, which begins at the New Year,

culminates in the Day of Atonement. Marked by fasting and an extended synagogue

service, this is a day of special holiness on which severe limitations on the normal daily

routine apply. The general restrictions on work, as described for the Sabbath, apply

on the New Year and Day of Atonement as well.

SUKKOT (FEAST OF BOOTHS)

SIMCHAT TORAH (FESTIVAL OF REJOICING WITH THE TORAH)

Sukkot is a joyous festival celebrating God’s bountiful harvest. At the same time,

we pray for productive harvests in the year to come and for God’s bounty being shared

with all humanity. Various colourful rituals mark this nine-day festival. During the

first two days and the last two days, Sabbath-like restrictions on work apply. The

final day of the festival, Simchat Torah, is a particularly joyous occasion which marks

the conclusion of the synagogue reading of the Torah (Pentateuch) and the

immediate recommencement of its reading, completed through the reading of

portions throughout the year.

CHANUKAH (FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS)

This early-winter celebration commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over

Hellenistic Greek oppressors in the 2nd century before the Common Era. The

Maccabean battles were fought to establish the principles of religious pluralism andthe acceptance of the rights of religious and ethnic minorities to live according to



their traditional ways in the context of a larger and dominant culture. This eight-

day festival is marked by special home and synagogue observances, and no restrictions

on the normal work routine apply.

PURIM (LOTS)

Celebrated at winter’s end, Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish

community, as described in the Biblical Book of Esther. The story is one of a small

Jewish community involved fully and positively in the life of the realm, and the

machinations of an evil individual who sees this positive involvement as a threat to

his own position. In the end, he suffers the consequences of his evil plot to destroy

the Jewish community. The Jewish community is spared, and its contribution to

society is noted. The story teaches that differences of religion and cultural ways do

not, and should not, preclude full involvement in civic affairs by members of minority

groups. Indeed, such involvement is encouraged. Purim is an occasion for joyous

celebration. Traditional observance of Purim may require some adjustments to the

normal work routine but does not require absence from work.

PESACH (PASSOVER)

Passover is a festival of the early spring; it is perhaps the best known of the Jewish

festivals. In the home and in the synagogue, special rituals and prayers celebrate the

fertility of the land in anticipation of a new harvest and the Biblical exodus from

Egyptian bondage. The latter event is the preeminent factor in the creation of the

Jewish people some 3,500 years ago.Sabbath-like restrictions apply on the first two and last two days of this eight-

day festival, while a restriction on the eating of any food containing leaven applies

throughout this period. The festival commences with an elaborate feast, the Seder,

replete with foods of special symbolic importance, at which the family relives the

experience of redemption and focuses on what Jewish peoplehood involves. On a

broader level, this is a time to consider the plight of all people who suffer a variety

of enslavements. We note that with human efforts and divine assistance, all humanity

may look forward to the joys and responsibilities of freedom.

SHAVUOT (FEAST OF WEEKS)

Seven weeks after Passover, in the early summer, comes the festival of Shavuot.Here is celebrated the arrival of the first fruits of the new harvest and, as well, the



giving of the Torah (Mosaic Law) at Mount Sinai. As the new grain and new produce

nourish and sustain our bodies, so God’s word nourishes and sustains our spirits. Body

and spirit as a unit, the individual then takes up the challenge to do God’s will. We

dedicate ourselves to making this world a more godly place, with all humanity living

in harmony and experiencing well-being. Sabbath-like restrictions apply during this

two-day festival.

TISHA B’AV (FAST OF NINTH DAY OF AV)

In mid-summer, Jews observe the anniversary of the destruction of the ancient

Temple which stood in Jerusalem as the focus for ancient Jewish ritual experience.

Still today, Jews turn towards the direction of Jerusalem when in prayer. Traditional

Jews mark the day with a fast of 25 hours, from sunset to the following day’s nightfall,

with prayers of mourning and with limitations on usual work-day involvements.

OTHER HOLY DAYS

We have briefly discussed the major holy days of the Jewish calendar. Listed below

are holidays which do not impose any limitations on the normal work day. Please

note that there are other special days throughout the year whose religious demands

may interfere with participation in a normal work routine, and, as well, the religious

response to various life-cycle events may require an adjustment to one’s usual

schedule.

We hope that all requests for consideration in this regard will be addressed with

sensitivity and in the spirit of reasonable accommodation.

TU BISHEVAT (15TH DAY OF SHEVAT)

Tu Bishevat marks the first day of spring in Israel and is considered the new year

for trees. Since ancient times the Jewish people have observed it by eating fruit grown

in Israel and in modern times by the planting of trees in the Holy Land.

YOM HASHOAH (HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY)

This day, established to remember the Holocaust and the six million Jews who

perished, is the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising.

YOM HAZIKARON (REMEMBRANCE DAY)

The day before Yom Ha’atzmaut is dedicated to the memory of all who dieddefending Israel before and after it became a state.



Provided by Canadian Jewish Congress as a service to agenciesand organizations in the public and private sectors to facilitate

planning of special events.

YOM HA’ATZMAUT (INDEPENDENCE DAY)

The fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyar is Israel’s Independence Day,

recognizing the establishment of the Jewish State in 1948. The chief rabbinate of

Israel recognizes this day as a minor festival, a thanksgiving to be celebrated in the

home and the synagogue.

LAG B’OMER (THE 33RD DAY OF THE OMER)

This day serves as a break in the mourning days between Pesach and Shavuot held

as remembrance of misfortunes which afflicted the Jewish people during the days of

Roman domination as well as during the Crusades of the Middle Ages. Lag B’Omer

serves as a reminder of the faith and courage of the Torah scholars during the harsh

rule of the Roman conquerors. No special liturgy or synagogue ritual exists for this

day; most people treat it as an ordinary work day.

YOM YERUSHALAYIM (JERUSALEM DAY)

The newest holiday in the Jewish calendar, celebrated each year on the 28th day

of the month of Iyar, Yom Yerushalayim marks the anniversary of the reclaiming in

1967 of Jerusalem as the nation’s capital.



N.B. While some adjustments to the normal work routine may be required to fulfill

religious obligations for the above holidays, there is no restriction on working. Thosewho observe the fast day of Tisha B’Av or other fast days not listed herein may have

difficulty performing usual work-day duties.

Minor Holidays and Fast Days

TU BISHEVAT PURIM YOM HASHOAH

2011 January 20 March 20 May 1

2012 February 8 March 8 April 19

2013 January 26 February 24 April 7

2014 January 16 March 16 April 27




2018 January 31 March 1 April 12



YOM HAZIKARON YOM HA’ATZMAUT LAG B’OMER

2011 May 9 May 10 May 22

2012 April 25 April 26 May 10

2013 April 15 April 16 April 28

2014 May 5 May 6 May 18


2016 May 11 May 12 May 26

2017 May 1 May 2 May 14


2019 May 8 May 9 May 23


YOM YERUSHALAYIM TISHA B’AV CHANUKAH

2011 June 1 August 9 Dec. 21-28

2012 May 20 July 29 Dec. 9-16

2013 May 8 July 16 Nov. 28-Dec. 5

2014 May 28 August 5 Dec. 17-24

2015 May 17 July 26 Dec. 7-14

2016 June 5 August 14 Dec. 25-Jan. 1

2017 May 24 August 1 Dec. 13-20

2018 May 13 July 22 Dec. 3-10

2019 June 2 August 11 Dec. 23-30

2020 May 22 July 30 Dec. 11-18



P a s s o v e r /

A p r i l 1 9 -

2 6

A p r i l 7 - 1 4

M a r c h 2 6 - A p r i l 2

A p r i l 1 5 - 2 2

A p r i l 4 - 1 1

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r i l 1 1 - 1 8

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M A J

O R J E W I S H H O L I D A Y S —

2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 0 — L E S F Ê T E S J U I V E S I M P O R T A N T E S

2 0 1 1

2 0 1 2

2 0 1 3

2 0

1 4

2 0 1 5

2 0 1 6

2 0 1 7

2 0 1 8

2 0 1 9

2 0 2 0

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