The Jewish calendar includes a number of holidays throughout the year. So, the Jews celebrate a variety of festive occasions that add joy and happiness to their life. Read below to find the list of Jewish holiday 2011 and find out why each such occasion is significant.
Jewish Holidays in 2011
Tu B’Shevat: This festival is observed on the 15th day of the month of Shevat in Jewish calendar. It is celebrated as the “New Year for Trees”. Tu B’Shevat marks that time of the year when the earliest-blooming trees start bearing fruits again. The date for Tu B’Shevat, 2011 is January 20.
The Jews celebrate this festival by eating fruits like olives, pomegranates, dates, etc. They also plant trees on Tu B’Shevat. Even though Tu B’Shevat is a holiday, yet the Jews are permitted to work on this day.
Fast of Esther: This is an occasion when the Jews observe a 3-day fast under the command of Esther who risked her life to protect the Jews from the evil decree of Haman. This fast starts from the 13th day of the month of Adar in the Hebrew or Jewish calendar. Just in case the fast falls on Shabbat (Saturday), the Jews observe it on the preceding Thursday. In 2011, Fast of Esther starts from March 17.
During this fast, the Jews are not permitted to take food and drink from sunrise to nightfall. Work is permitted on this special day.
Purim: Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the day when the Jews in the Persian Empire could stay away from death, as mentioned in the Book of Esther. Purim is usually celebrated on the 14th day of Adar. The date for Purim in 2011 is March 19-20 (from nightfall of March 19 to nightfall of March 20).
The Jews celebrate Purim through public readings of the book of Esther and giving food and money to the poor. They also send Purim greeting cards and gifts to their dear ones. There’s also a grand feast with costume contest held to celebrate this occasion. The Jews are not allowed to work on this festive occasion.
Shushan Purim: Shushan Purim is the day after Purim, which is celebrated to commemorate the day when the Jews of Shushan (capital of Persia) took rest from war after they had defeated their enemies. It is observed on the 15th day of Adar. However, in spite of being a holiday, Jews are permitted to work if they want.
On Shushan Purim, the Jews avoid the Tachanun prayer and organize a grand meal unlike they may have on other days. The date for Shushan Purim, 2011 is March 21.
Passover: The 8-day festival of Passover is observed by the Jews to celebrate the freedom gained by ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Passover dates for 2011 are April 18 (from sunset) to April 26 (until nightfall).
Passover is divided into 2 parts. The first 2 days and last 2 days are observed as complete holidays when people celebrate with grand meals. They avoid work on these days. However, they are allowed to work on the 4 days in between. The Jews also don’t drive on this occasion. They light candles at night during Passover. The Jews avoid eating any food or drink that has even a small amount of barley, wheat, oats, or rye.
Second Passover: This Jewish holiday is observed on the 14th day of the month of Iyar. In ancient times, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem gave the Jews a second chance to bring their Passover offerings, which they hadn’t been able to do on the first “Passover”. This day is observed by eating matzah (unleavened bread). Work is permitted on this day.
Lag B'Omer: Lag B'Omer is celebrated on the 33rd day of Omer which includes the 49 days between the festivals of Passover and Shavout. In 2011, the date for Lag B'Omer is May 22. This festival commemorates the end of a plague which was responsible for the death of several students of Rabbi Akiva. It is also observed as the death anniversary of the great sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the student of Rabbi Akiva. The Jews celebrate this day with outings, bonfires, and other festive events.
Shavuot:Shavout is observed to celebrate the day when God gifted the Torah (religious books) to the Jews on Mount Sinai in ancient times. Shavout means ‘weeks”. Shavout 2011 goes on from June 7 (sunset) to June 9 (nightfall). Work is not permitted on this Jewish holiday.
Fast of the 17th of Tammuz: This Jewish holiday is observed to remember the day when the walls of Jerusalem were broken before the Second Temple was destroyed. It is observed on the 17th day of the month of Tammuz in Jewish calendar. In 2011, the exact date for this festival falls on July 19.
This Jewish holiday indicates the beginning of the 3-week period when the Jews mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. From dawn to dusk, people observe a fast on this day and avoid eating and drinking completely. Work is permitted on this day.
Fast of Tish'a B'Av: This is an annual fast day that falls on the 9th day (Tisha) of the month of Av. The fast is observed to commemorate the day when the First Temple and Second Temple of Jerusalem were ruined. Work should be avoided on this day. The 2011 date for this Jewish holiday is August 8 (from sunset) to August 9 (up to nightfall).
Rosh Hashanah: This is one of the widely observed holidays in Jewish calendar. It marks the new year of the Jewish people. It is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd days of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah 2011 falls on September 28 (from sunset) up to September 30 (until nightfall). The primary observance on this day is the blowing of ram’s horn or shofar. The Jews also celebrate by eating apples dipped in honey, which symbolizes their willingness to have a sweet and happy new year ahead. Work is not allowed on this day.
Fast of Gedaliah: This Jewish holiday is observed on the 3rd day of Tishrei. In 2011, the Fast of Gedaliah will be conducted on October 2. This holiday commemorates the killing of Gedaliah, the official who was responsible to look after the Jews in Judah. People observe a fast from sunrise to sunset on this day. In addition, they offer prayers and spend time in biblical readings. Work is permitted on this day.
Yom Kippur: This Jewish holiday falls on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei. The Jews consider this occasion as the holiest day of the year. They believe that God inscribes each person’s fate for the next year on Rosh Hashanah and seals it on Yom Kippur. The Jews observe this day with fasting and rigorous prayers. Yom Kippur starts from the sunset of October 7 and ends on October 8. No work will be allowed to be done on this Jewish holiday 2011.
Sukkot: This Jewish holiday is observed on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. It is one of the three famous festivals when the Jews are instructed to conduct a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and visit the Holy Temple located there. In 2011, Sukkot starts from the sunset of October 12 and ends on October 19. The Jews are not permitted to work from October 13-15. However, work is allowed on October 16-19 with some limitations. On this special occasion, the Jews send Sukkot cards to their dear ones to convey their warm wishes.
Hoshanah Rabbah: The Jewish holiday of Hoshanah Rabbah falls on the 7th and last day of Sukkot. The beating of the willow branch is performed on this day. On this festive occasion, seven circuits are made by the Jews with their lulav (closed frond of a date palm tree) and etrog (yellow citron or Citrus medica). The congregation recites the Hoshanot (certain prayers of the Jews) on this day. In 2011, Hoshanah Rabbah falls on October 19. Work may be allowed with some limitations on this day.
Shemini Atzeret: It is a Jewish holiday that follows the festival of Sukkot. This is the day when the rainy season following the harvest in Israel starts. Praying for rains is the primary ritual followed during this time of the year. This festival will be observed on the sunset of October 19 through nightfall of October 20. The Jews are not permitted to work on this day.
Simchat Torah: It is a Jewish holiday that makes the ending of one cycle of the public readings of Torah and the starting of another cycle. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the month of Tishrei in Israel and the 23rd day of the same month outside Israel. No work is permitted on this day. In 2011, this Jewish holiday starts from the nightfall of October 20 and ends on the nightfall of October 21.
Chanukah: This is the Jewish festival of rededication. It is also called the festival of lights. It goes on for a period of 8 days, starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. This Jewish holiday is often considered as the Jewish Christmas because it involves similar traditions as followed in Christmas celebrations. In 2011, Chanukah begins on the sunset of December 20 and ends on December 28. The Jews are allowed to work on this holiday.
A special observance of this festival is the lighting of 9 candles on a candelabrum known as menorah. One candle is lighted on each night of Chanukah. A single candle is placed and lighted at a certain height. Work is permitted on every day except one day known as Shabbat.
