According to our Sages, each observance in the Jewish Calendar is significant and is not simply a memory of something past. They teach that each Festival and observance reveals a specific energy that was revealed in our world, to which we can connect each time the observance comes up in the calendar.
The purpose of this page is to explain the upcoming chagim (Festivals/Holidays) and their dates in the common calendar for the current year. We typically publish a new calendar after the beginning of the new Hebrew month. You can click on the CALENDAR button on the bottom of each festival to see the events for that Festival if the calendar is available.
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The Jewish people had descended to the 49th level of negativity while in Egypt and therefore were in need of salvation. It took the "mighty hand" of Hashem to save them. On the 2nd night of Pesach we begin a journey of 49 days, and upon the conclusion of those days, we arrive at the festival of Shavuot (literally weeks) which is Matan Torah (Giving of The Torah). Kabbalah teaches about 50 gates of negativity. Once the 50th gate is reached, there is no way back, the battle is lost. With the mitzvah of counting the 49 days, known as Sefirat Ha-Omer, we are invited on a journey into the human psyche, into the soul. There are seven basic emotions that make up the spectrum of human experience. At the root of all forms of enslavement, is a distortion of these emotions. Each of the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot is dedicated to examining and refining one of them. They help us materialize the Light into our physical world, by attaining our “surrounding Light” first, followed by the “inner Light.” This is the preparation for Shavuot.
Every night during the Period of the Omer, we will have an Arvit service followed by Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of The Omer) @ 8:30 PM EDT, with the exception of Saturday nights which will be according to the schedule of the upcoming Shabbat.
33rd day of Sefirat Ha-Omer. This holiday is also known as the nachalah (death anniversary) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. According to Kabbalah, on the day of his death Rashbi revealed some of the deepest secrets of the Torah, which were later arranged as the Zohar. This day is considered to be the giving of the תורה נסתר Torat HaNistar (the Hidden Torah). There is a custom is to light bonfires to commemorate the death of Rabbi Shimon and also to remember the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva.
Tachanun is not recited on Lag Ba-Omer.
On the night of Lag Ba-Omer, we will have a special reading from the Idra Zuta following the Arvit service.
Shavuot is the Festival of Matan Torah which takes place exactly 50 days after Pesach. The word Shavuot literally means "weeks" and refers to the period of the Counting of The Omer that begins on the 2nd day of Pesach and concludes with the Festival of Shavuot. This Festival combines two major observances in Jewish life, the grain harvest of the early summer and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Some of the special connections for Shavuot are Tikun Leil Shavuot and the reading of Megilat Ruth. It is minhag to eat dairy on Shavuot because the Hebrew word for milk חלב (Chalav) has a numerical value of 40, which are the days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai when he received the Torah, and because the Torah is compared to "nourishing milk."
Many Jewish communities in the Diaspora (outside of the land of Israel) follow a 2-day Festival schedule for the Festival of Shavuot. Our community follows the 1 day commanded by Torah and as is custom in Eretz Yisrael.
Work is not permitted on the Festival of Shavuot.
The 17th of Tammuz is one of the Arbah Ta-aniyot (Four Fasts) which commemorates five tragic events that befell the Jewish People: 1. Moses broke the first set of Tablets; 2. The Tamid Offering ceased; 3. Apostomos burned the holy Torah; 4. An idol was placed in the Beit HaMikdash; 5. The walls of Jerusalem were breached.
During Shacharit: Selichot follows Tachanun. One lays Tefillin during Minchah instead of Shacharit.
This fast begins at sunrise and ends at sunset.
The Yemei Bein HaMetzarim literally means "days between the straits". Also known as the Three Weeks, it is a time of introspection and mourning for the loss of the Temples. During this time we should keep in mind the idea of restricting our ego nature. We fast from red meat and wine (except on Shabbat) and we make a point of making extra time for meditation. Yemei Bein HaMetzarim begins with the 17th of Tammuz and ends on Tishah Be-Av. In the Final Redemption, our Sages teach that both these days will become Festival days, and the three weeks will become Chol HaMoed.
Tikun Rachel is said before Minchah each day except on Erev Rosh Chodesh Av and Rosh Chodesh Av.
During this time we refrain from listening to music, eating red meat, wearing new garments, and festivities including weddings. Sephardic communities allow shaving and haircuts until the week of Tishah Be-Av.
Tishah Be-Av is the most tragic day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day of mourning and commemorates the day that both of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. Some other tragic events include the day the spies returned from the Promised Land, the Bar Kochba revolt, in 1290 the expulsion of the Jews from England, and in 1492 the banishment of all Jews from Spain.
Torah study is forbidden except that which relates to the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash. Kinnot are recited at all services. One lays Tefillin during Minchah instead of Shacharit.
This fast begins at sunset the night before and ends after nightfall.
Work is not permitted on this day.
On the 2nd day of the month of Elul (Virgo) begins the period of Teshvuah (return/repentance) which leads up to Rosh HaShanah and Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe). In the Sephardic tradition, we begin Selichot on the 2nd day of Elul. Selichot gives us the opportunity to unite ourselves with the Creator's Light and with the consciousness of selichah סליחה, which means forgiveness. During the Selichot service we confront our past negative actions and ask for forgiveness. This is a vital preparation for Rosh HaShanah, the Days of Awe, and Yom Kippur. The best time to for Selichot is between midnight and dawn, for it is during this time that Divine mercy is available.
Selichot is said on all days except Shabbat.
Our congregation has a Selichot service each night at halachic midnight, except on Friday nights.
Rosh HaShanah is the Jewish New Year, and is a day of judgement for all of creation. Kabbalah teaches that the purpose of Rosh Hashanah is to receive all of the energy necessary to remove the blockages we have created through our negative actions during the last year.The services on Rosh Hashanah give us the opportunity to restore ourselves and the world to the Tree of Life reality. The Shofar is a tool which is used to dissolve all blockages of negative energy we have created in the previous twelve months.
Work is not permitted on both days of Rosh HaShanah
The Mishkan was erected on Rosh Chodesh Nisan, and during the first twelve days the twelve leaders of the tribes brought their offering for the dedication of the Altar. Nisan is referred to as the "First of Months." Our Sages teach that each of the first twelve days connects us to each of the twelve months that follow. Each day there is a special Torah reading, prayers, and meditation. On the 13th day, we read the portion about the Menorah. On the 14th day, the sacrificial lamb for the Pesach offering was slaughtered and we have an observance on that day as an expression of our longing for the Beit Hamikdash to be rebuilt in our time. Each day we put aside three coins for tzedakah, which will equal 42 coins when we complete Day 14.
Pesach is the Festival of redemption and freedom and we remember it not just during Pesach, but also during every Shabbat and every other Festival throughout the entire year. Egypt and Pharaoh are symbols of the Evil Inclination of the nefesh level of our souls. Pesach reminds us of the powerful redemption from Egypt as we fulfill the mitzvah of the telling of the story of Pesach. Also this energy, which is available every Pesach, can assist us in securing freedom from our own selfish whims and fancies in our journey of transformation. Chametz (leaven) is a symbol of ego. During Pesach we eat Matzah which is known as "bread without ego." Matzah is not disquised in any way, we taste it for what it is, simply bread and water. It is the staple we eat during these days of Pesach as a reminder that freedom comes to those who let go of ego and allow the true self to take over.
Many Jewish communities in the Diaspora (outside of the land of Israel) follow an 8-day Festival schedule for the Festival of Pesach. Our community follows the 7 days commanded by Torah and as is custom in Eretz Yisrael.
Work is not permitted on the Festival (Days 1 and 7).
Work is permitted on Chol HaMoed (Days 2-6)
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