By holidayThe fourteen holidays we cover.
Each in two-or-three sentences — the Hebrew name, the English name (and common alternate spellings), what we teach, and where to get the lesson pack.
Rosh Hashanah רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה
2026: Fri Sep 11 eve
Also: Jewish New Year
The Jewish new year. Hear the shofar, dip apples in honey, and pray for a sweet year ahead. The two-day yom tov begins the month of Tishrei.
In 2026: Begins Friday evening, Sep 11; ends Sunday night, Sep 13, 2026. (2 days)
Yom Kippur יוֹם כִּפּוּר
2026: Sun Sep 20 eve
Also: Day of Atonement
The holiest day of the Jewish year — a full day of fasting and prayer. For K–6 families: kids don't fast, but they can come to shul, hear the shofar at the end, and join the meal that breaks the fast.
In 2026: Begins Sunday evening, Sep 20; ends Monday night, Sep 21, 2026.
Sukkot חַג סֻכּוֹת
2026: Fri Sep 25 eve
Also: Festival of Booths · Sukkos
The Festival of Booths. Build a sukkah, wave the four species (lulav, etrog, hadas, aravah), and eat your meals under the stars for a week.
In 2026: Begins Friday evening, Sep 25; ends Friday night, Oct 2, 2026. (7 days)
Shemini Atzeret שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת
2026: Fri Oct 2 eve
Also: Eighth-day Assembly
The eighth-day yom tov that immediately follows Sukkot. We pray for rain (Tefillat Geshem) and begin saying "Mashiv haRuach."
In 2026: Begins Friday evening, Oct 2; ends Saturday night, Oct 3, 2026.
In Israel: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are combined into a single yom tov on this day.
Simchat Torah שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה
2026: Sat Oct 3 eve
Also: Joy of the Torah
Finish the annual Torah reading, dance the hakafot with the sifrei Torah, and start Bereshit all over again.
In 2026: Begins Saturday evening, Oct 3; ends Sunday night, Oct 4, 2026.
In Israel: combined with Shemini Atzeret (a single yom tov a day earlier).
Chanukah חַג חֲנֻכָּה
2026: Fri Dec 4 eve
Also: Hanukkah · Festival of Lights
Eight nights of lighting the chanukiah, remembering the oil that lasted eight days and the rededication of the Beit HaMikdash.
In 2026: Begins Friday evening, Dec 4; ends Saturday night, Dec 12, 2026. (8 days)
When Chanukah falls on Shabbat: Chanukah candles are lit BEFORE Shabbat candles on Friday, and on Shabbat night candles wait until after havdalah.
Tu B'Shvat ט״ו בִּשְׁבָט
2027: Fri Jan 22 eve
Also: Tu BiShvat · New Year of the Trees
The New Year of the Trees. Eat fruits of the Land of Israel, plant something, and learn the Shivat HaMinim (the seven species).
In 2027: Begins Friday evening, Jan 22; ends Saturday night, Jan 23, 2027.
Purim חַג פּוּרִים
2027: Mon Mar 22 eve
Also: Feast of Esther
Queen Esther's story. Read the megillah, send mishloach manot, give matanot la'evyonim, and feast at the seudat Purim.
In 2027: Begins Monday evening, Mar 22; ends Tuesday night, Mar 23, 2027.
In Jerusalem and other walled cities: observed one day later (Shushan Purim, 15 Adar).
Pesach חַג הַפֶּסַח
2027: Wed Apr 21 eve
Also: Passover
The Holiday of Freedom. Two seder nights (one in Israel), eat matzah for a week, tell the going-out-of-Mitzrayim story.
In 2027: Begins Wednesday evening, Apr 21; ends Thursday night, Apr 29, 2027. (8 days)
In Israel: 7 days (1 yom tov + 5 chol hamoed + 1 yom tov). In diaspora: 8 days (2 + 4 + 2).
Lag B'Omer ל״ג בָּעֹמֶר
2027: Mon May 24 eve
Also: Lag BaOmer · 33rd day of the Omer
The 33rd day of the Omer count. A pause in the Omer's semi-mourning customs — bonfires, weddings, and first haircuts (upsherin) all happen on this day.
In 2027: Begins Monday evening, May 24; ends Tuesday night, May 25, 2027.
Pack on roadmap
Yom HaAtzmaut יוֹם הָעַצְמָאוּת
2027: Tue May 11 eve
Also: Israel Independence Day
Israel's Independence Day — the modern state was declared on 5 Iyar 5708 / May 14, 1948. Sing HaTikvah, learn about the Israeli flag, celebrate the journey home.
In 2027: Begins Tuesday evening, May 11; ends Wednesday night, May 12, 2027.
If 5 Iyar falls on Friday or Shabbat, the holiday is moved earlier (to Thursday); if Monday, moved later (to Tuesday) — to avoid Shabbat desecration.
Yom Yerushalayim יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלַיִם
2027: Thu Jun 3 eve
Also: Jerusalem Day
Jerusalem Day — the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. The eight gates of the Old City, the Kotel, and the joy of return.
In 2027: Begins Thursday evening, Jun 3; ends Friday night, Jun 4, 2027.
Shavuot חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת
2027: Thu Jun 10 eve
Also: Shavuos · Feast of Weeks
Receiving the Torah at Har Sinai. Eat dairy, decorate with flowers, learn all night (Tikkun Leil Shavuot), and read Megillat Rut.
In 2027: Begins Thursday evening, Jun 10; ends Saturday night, Jun 12, 2027. (2 days)
In Israel: 1 day (yom tov). In diaspora: 2 days.
Tisha B'Av תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב
2027: Wed Aug 11 eve
Also: 9th of Av · Day of Mourning
A day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of both Temples. K–6 framing: the saddest day of the year, but it leads to comfort and rebuilding. Children do not fast.
In 2027: Begins Wednesday evening, Aug 11; ends Thursday night, Aug 12, 2027.
Pack on roadmapIsrael observance differs
If 9 Av falls on Shabbat, the fast is observed the next day (10 Av).