14 major Jewish holidays in 2028 — every one with Hebrew name in nikud, exact start and end times (sundown the evening before through nightfall of the last day), day of the week, length in days, and a paragraph for the parent who's about to teach it. Diaspora observance.
Each holiday card below shows the Hebrew name with nikud, the exact halachic time span (sundown the evening before through nightfall of the last day), day of the week, length in days, and a parent-friendly teaching summary. Where Israel observance differs from the diaspora calendar, it's flagged inline.
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).
Exact timing: Begins Friday evening, Feb 11; ends Saturday night, Feb 12, 2028.
Also: Feast of Esther
Queen Esther's story. Read the megillah, send mishloach manot, give matanot la'evyonim, and feast at the seudat Purim.
Exact timing: Begins Saturday evening, Mar 11; ends Sunday night, Mar 12, 2028.
Also: Passover
The Holiday of Freedom. Two seder nights (one in Israel), eat matzah for a week, tell the going-out-of-Mitzrayim story.
Exact timing: Begins Monday evening, Apr 10; ends Tuesday night, Apr 18, 2028. (8 days)
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.
Exact timing: Begins Monday evening, May 1; ends Tuesday night, May 2, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Saturday evening, May 13; ends Sunday night, May 14, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Tuesday evening, May 23; ends Wednesday night, May 24, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Tuesday evening, May 30; ends Thursday night, Jun 1, 2028. (2 days)
Also: 9th of Av · Day of Mourning
A day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of both Temples. K–3 framing: the saddest day of the year, but it leads to comfort and rebuilding. Children do not fast.
Exact timing: Begins Monday evening, Jul 31; ends Tuesday night, Aug 1, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Wednesday evening, Sep 20; ends Friday night, Sep 22, 2028. (2 days)
Also: Day of Atonement
The holiest day of the Jewish year — a full day of fasting and prayer. For K–3 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.
Exact timing: Begins Friday evening, Sep 29; ends Saturday night, Sep 30, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Wednesday evening, Oct 4; ends Wednesday night, Oct 11, 2028. (7 days)
Also: Eighth-day Assembly
The eighth-day yom tov that immediately follows Sukkot. We pray for rain (Tefillat Geshem) and begin saying "Mashiv haRuach."
Exact timing: Begins Wednesday evening, Oct 11; ends Thursday night, Oct 12, 2028.
Also: Joy of the Torah
Finish the annual Torah reading, dance the hakafot with the sifrei Torah, and start Bereshit all over again.
Exact timing: Begins Thursday evening, Oct 12; ends Friday night, Oct 13, 2028.
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.
Exact timing: Begins Monday evening, Dec 11; ends Tuesday night, Dec 19, 2028. (8 days)
Rosh Hashanah 2028 begins at sundown on Wednesday, Sep 20, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Friday, Sep 22, 2028.
Yom Kippur 2028 begins at sundown on Friday, Sep 29, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Sep 30, 2028.
Chanukah 2028 begins at sundown on Monday, Dec 11, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, Dec 19, 2028.
Pesach 2028 begins at sundown on Monday, Apr 10, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2028. In Israel: 7 days (1 yom tov + 5 chol hamoed + 1 yom tov). In diaspora: 8 days (2 + 4 + 2).
Purim 2028 begins at sundown on Saturday, Mar 11, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, Mar 12, 2028. In Jerusalem and other walled cities: observed one day later (Shushan Purim, 15 Adar).
Shavuot 2028 begins at sundown on Tuesday, May 30, 2028 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, Jun 1, 2028. In Israel: 1 day (yom tov). In diaspora: 2 days.
Every dated holiday above with a "Lesson pack" badge links to a complete K–3 pack: English deck + vowelized Hebrew + worksheets + parent guide. No prior Hebrew required.
