Navigating the Jewish holidays can be enriching, whether you’re Jewish, interested in Judaism, or simply trying to be mindful of different cultural observances. If you’ve ever wondered “What Jewish Holiday Is Today?”, you’re not alone. The Jewish calendar is rich with festivals, holy days, and observances that occur throughout the year, each carrying its own unique significance and traditions. Understanding this calendar is key to knowing what holidays are being celebrated at any given time.
To help you stay informed and prepared, we’ve created a helpful guide to the Jewish calendar, focusing on the upcoming holidays in 2025. This will provide you with a clear picture of what Jewish holidays to expect and when they will occur.
Understanding the Jewish Calendar
Before diving into the specific holidays, it’s helpful to understand the basics of the Jewish calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is solar-based, the Jewish calendar is lunisolar, meaning it incorporates both lunar and solar cycles. This results in holidays falling on different dates each year in the Gregorian calendar. Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date specified in a standard calendar. Keeping this in mind is crucial when checking “what Jewish holiday is today”.
Knowing the timing of Jewish holidays allows for better planning, whether it’s for personal scheduling, community events, or simply showing respect and understanding towards Jewish friends, neighbors, or colleagues.
Image: A promotional banner for Chanukah respite care services, emphasizing community and support during the Festival of Lights.
Jewish Holidays in 2025 – 5785
Below is a calendar of Jewish festivals and holy days for the year 2025 (5785 in the Jewish calendar). This calendar will assist you in anticipating and understanding “what Jewish holiday is today” or is approaching.
| Festival / Holy-day | Date |
|---|---|
| Tu B’Shvat | February 13, 2025 |
| Purim | March 13 – 14, 2025 |
| Pesach (Passover) | April 12 – 20, 2025 |
| Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) | April 24, 2025 |
| Yom Hazikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) | April 30, 2025 |
| Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) | May 1, 2025 |
| Lag B’Omer | May 16, 2025 |
| Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) | May 26, 2025 |
| Shavuot | June 1 – 3, 2025 |
| Tisha B’Av | August 2, 2025 |
| Tu B’Av | August 9, 2025 |
| Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) | September 22 – 24, 2025 |
| Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) | October 1 – 2, 2025 |
| Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles) | October 6 – 13, 2025 |
| Shemini Atzeret | October 13 – 14, 2025 |
| Simchat Torah (Rejoicing with the Torah) | October 14 – 15, 2025 |
| Chanukah (Festival of Lights) | December 14 – 22, 2025 |
Key Jewish Holidays: An Overview
To further enhance your understanding of “what Jewish holiday is today”, let’s explore some of the most significant holidays in the Jewish calendar:
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Rosh Hashanah, occurring in the fall, marks the Jewish New Year. This is not just a New Year celebration, but a time of deep reflection and spiritual renewal. Observed over two days, Rosh Hashanah is characterized by prayers in synagogue, the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn), and festive meals with symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey, representing hopes for a sweet new year. It’s a High Holy Day, meaning work is traditionally forbidden.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Ten days after Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, considered the holiest day in the Jewish year. It’s a solemn day dedicated to repentance and seeking forgiveness. Observance includes a 25-hour fast, intensive prayer, and synagogue services. Like Rosh Hashanah, it’s a High Holy Day where work is prohibited. Yom Kippur concludes the High Holy Days period, also known as the Days of Awe.
Sukkot (Festival of Tabernacles)
Sukkot is a joyous week-long festival that follows shortly after Yom Kippur. It commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert and living in temporary shelters. A central tradition of Sukkot is building and dwelling in a Sukkah, a temporary hut, for meals and sometimes even sleeping. The festival also involves the “Four Kinds” – palm branch, citron, myrtle, and willow – which are used in daily prayers. The final day of Sukkot is Simchat Torah.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Shemini Atzeret, meaning “Eighth Day of Assembly,” immediately follows Sukkot. While connected to Sukkot, it’s considered a separate holiday focused on the spiritual aspects of the festival. Simchat Torah, “Rejoicing with the Torah,” occurs right after Shemini Atzeret and marks the completion of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. It’s celebrated with joyous processions called “hakafot,” involving singing and dancing with Torah scrolls in the synagogue.
Chanukah (Festival of Lights)
Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt. The central ritual is lighting the Chanukiah (an eight-branched candelabrum) each night of the festival, increasing by one candle each night. Other customs include eating fried foods like latkes and doughnuts, playing dreidel, and giving gifts, especially to children.
Purim
Purim is a festive and joyous holiday celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them in ancient Persia, as told in the Book of Esther. Celebrations include reading the Megillah (Scroll of Esther), sending gifts of food (“mishloach manot”), giving charity to the poor (“matanot l’evyonim”), and enjoying a festive meal. It’s also customary to dress up in costumes and engage in merriment.
Pesach (Passover)
Pesach, or Passover, is a major eight-day festival commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. The most important ritual of Pesach is the Seder, a ritual meal held on the first (and sometimes second) night, involving the retelling of the Exodus story, drinking four cups of wine, eating matzah (unleavened bread), and other symbolic foods. During Pesach, observant Jews avoid eating chametz (leavened foods).
Shavuot
Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, occurs seven weeks after Passover and commemorates the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. It’s a two-day festival often celebrated with dairy meals and decorating synagogues and homes with greenery. Many synagogues hold special services, including reading the Ten Commandments.
Tisha B’Av
Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning and fasting that commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and other tragedies in Jewish history. It is considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, marked by fasting, prayer, and somber reflection.
By consulting this calendar and understanding the significance of each holiday, you’ll be well-equipped to answer the question “what Jewish holiday is today” and appreciate the rich tapestry of Jewish traditions throughout the year.
