2018 HOLIDAYS
Jewish Holidays and noteworthy dates Tu B’Shevat
Tuesday, Jan. 30 (begins at sunset) Wednesday, Jan. 31 (ends at nightfall) Tu b’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar, is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. We mark the day of Tu b’Shevat by eating fruit, particularly the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day, we remember that “man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), and reflect on the lessons we can derive from our botanical analogue.
Purim
Wednesday, Feb. 28 (begins at sunset) Thursday, March 1 (ends at nightfall) The jolly festival of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther).
Passover
Friday, March 30 (begins at sunset) Saturday, April 7 (ends at nightfall) The eight-day festival of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan. It commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. By following the rituals of Passover, we have the ability to relive and experience the true freedom that our ancestors gained.
Yom Hashoah
Wednesday, April 11 (begins at sunset) Thursday, April 12 (ends at nightfall) Holocaust Memorial Day
Yom Hazikaron
Tuesday, April 17 (begins at sunset) Wednesday, April 18 (ends at nightfall) Israel Memorial Day
Yom Ha’Atzmaut
Wednesday, April 18 (begins at sunset) Thursday, April 19 (ends at nightfall) Israeli Independence Day
Shavuot
Saturday, May 19 (begins at sunset) Monday, May 21 (ends at nightfall) Shavuot coincides with the date that G‑d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago. It comes after 49 days of eager counting, as we prepared ourselves for this special day. It is celebrated by lighting candles, staying up all night to learn Torah, hearing the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue, feasting on dairy foods and more.
12 SOURCE 2018