Dates of Jewish Holidays and Official Israel Holidays

The official day of rest is the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at nightfall on Friday and ends after dark on Saturday night.On the Sabbath and official religious holidays, expect most establishments to be closed and transportation to be scarce in western Jerusalem. Public buses stop running an hour before the start of the Sabbath or holiday, as do many taxi services. On national holidays - as opposed to religious ones - transportation is usually available, although businesses may be closed.

The Jewish day begins at sunset. Thus, please note that the dates of Jewish holidays listed below are for the daytime - observance of the holidays actually begins the evening before the given dates! For example, observance of Yom Kippur, listed below on September 28, 2009, will actually begin an hour before sundown on September 27.

Dates of Jewish Holidays and Official Israel Holidays	2011	2012
Shushan Purim – this joyous religious Jewish holiday is not an official holiday, although most people take the day off. In the rest of Israel and the world, the holiday of Purim is celebrated the day before. However, cities that were walled at the time of the Purim miracle celebrate Shushan Purim. Jerusalem is one of the few places able to celebrate Shushan Purim. Public transportation is available but traffic – both vehicular and pedestrian – is a nightmare: everyone is out in the streets!	March 21	March 9
Passover – The first and last day of the week of Passover are official holidays. Most government offices may also be closed or operating only half days during the intervening days, a period known as Chol Hamo’ed (see below).	April 19 – 25	April 7 - 14
Yom Hasho’ah - Holocaust Remembrance Day	May 2	April 19
Yom Hazikaron – Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers	May 9	April 25
Israel Independence Day	May 10	April 26
Jerusalem Day – commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967	June 1	May 20
Shavuot - the Festival of Weeks	June 8	May 27
Tisha B’Av – This is a day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of both the First and the Second Temples. Transportation is available and many stores are open, especially in the afternoon.	August 9	July 29
Rosh Hashanah – the Jewish new year. This is a two day holiday. No transportation, businesses and government offices closed.	September 29 - 30	September 17 - 18
Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. The country pretty much comes to a standstill. Everything is closed, no transportation.	October 8	September 26
Sukkot – the Feast of Tabernacles. The first and last days of this eight-day holiday are official holidays. Most government offices may also be closed or operating only half days during the intervening days, a period known as Chol Hamo’ed.	October 13 - 20	October 1 - 9
Channukah – Although a week-long holiday, businesses are open. In religious areas, they may close slightly earlier in the evening.	December 21 - 28	December 9 - 16

Dates of Jewish Holidays and Official Israel Holidays

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