Jewish Holidays 2008 Tu B'shvat -- The New Year for Trees (or "Jewish Arbor Day"). Tuesday, January 22, 2008. The "Tu B'shvat seder" is performed the night of Monday January 21. Purim -- The Feast of Esther. Friday, March 21, 2008. Shushan Purim (celebrated in Jerusalem and other cities which were walled at the time of Joshua entering the Land of Israel) is celebrated Saturday March 22 and March 23, 2008. This is known as a "Purim meshuleshet", a triangulated Purim. Pesach -- Passover ( Leviticus 23: 5-14) , the Feast of the Exodus from Egypt, unleavened bread festival. Sunday, April 20, 2008 until Saturday April 26 (Sunday April 27, 2008 in the Diaspora). Seder night is Saturday night April 19, 2008. The seventh day of Pesach (and eighth in the Diaspora) celebrates the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea. Lag B'omer -- The 33rd day of the Omer. Friday, May 23, 2008. Celebratory bonfires are lit on Thursday May 22, 2008. Shavuot -- The harvest festival ( Leviticus 23: 15-16, 21) - Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, Feast of the first fruits, the harvest festival, "Atzeret" (the "ending", Passover being the beginning), and the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, are all biblical names for the holiday. Monday, June 9, 2008 (and Tuesday June 10, 2008 outside of Israel).
High Holydays 2008: Tishrei 5769
The Jewish holidays in the fall are often called the "High Holidays" or "High Holydays". In Hebrew they are called the "Yomim Nora'im", "The Days of Awe". This title reflects the utmost importance of these holidays in the Jewish religion. The holidays of the Jewish month of Tishrei are:
Rosh Hashanah -- The Jewish New Year ( Leviticus 23:23-24). Also known as the Day of Judgement, is Tuesday and Wednesday, September 30, and October 1, 2008 (holiday starts at sundown on Monday night September 28). Yom Kippur -- The Day of Atonement ( Leviticus 23: 26-32). Thursday, October 9, 2008. Kol Nidre is Wednesday night. Sukkot -- The Festival of Booths (Leviticus 23:33-44) . Also known as the Festival of Shelters. Tuesday, October 14, 2008 (plus Wednesday October 15 outside Israel). Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah -- The Festival Rejoicing the Torah. Tuesday, October 21, 2008 (plus Wednesday, October 22, 2008 outside Israel).
Chanukah
The Festival of Lights. First candle lighting in the evening of Sunday December 21, 2008 (the first "day" of Chanukah being Monday, December 22, 2008). Candle lighting is each evening following that until the evening of Wednesday December 29, 2008. The last full day of Chanukah this year is December 30, 2008. The Jewish "day" commences in the evening ("There was evening, there was morning, one day."), so the holiday begins the eve of the dates shown, and exits at nightfall of the date shown.