Jewish Holy Days
September 2013 – June 2014
A calendar to help educators & school administrators
plan their academic year activities around Jewish Holy Days
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This pamphlet has been prepared to familiarize educators with the
major holy days of the Jewish faith. We hope it will be valuable to
you in understanding Jewish holy day observances and their effect on
student and staff absences and classroom planning.
This brochure was made possible in part by a grant from the
Oregon Jewish Community Youth Foundation.
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Portland, OR 97223
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Jewish Holy Day Calendar 2013–2014
The Jewish religion celebrates a number of special days of observance. These dates occur according to the Jewish
calendar. Thus, the Jewish holy days fall on different dates from year to year within the Gregorian or Christian calendar.
Traditional observance of the Jewish holy days calls for abstaining from work, school, and other everyday activities, and
for participating in religious worship. These days are not viewed as “vacation” or “free time.”
When the Holy Day Begins
Every Jewish holy day begins at sunset of
the previous day. Holy days conclude after
sunset on the designated day.
For example, in 2013 Yom Kippur is
observed on a Saturday, but begins on
Friday evening and concludes Saturday
night after dark. That entire time is
considered holy—the evening is just as
important as the daytime.
It is imperative that schools avoid conflicts
on the eve of a holy day as well as on the
holy day itself.
Scheduling School Activities
The law requires schools to provide
make-up opportunities for students who
are absent due to religious observance.
However, there would be less disruption
for students and teachers if the major
Jewish holy days were taken into account in
the scheduling of exams and assignments.
Non-academic activities such as backto-school nights, band or choir concerts,
photo days, school dances, etc., are also
important to students, parents, and
teachers. Please remember to check the
Jewish Holy Day Calendar (below) when
scheduling all school-related activities.
Levels of Observance
There are three major branches within
Judaism: Reform, Orthodox, and
Conservative. All three consider the holy
days to be special religious events.
Each, however, has its own degree of
observance regarding work and school on
holy days. As a result, the number of days
which a holy day may be observed varies
from person to person, depending on the
level of religious observance.
Students and staff will probably be absent for the following holy days:
Rosh Hashanah
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
Passover (Seders)
Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of the
Jewish year. It is the first of the High Holy
Days and marks the start of the ten-day
period of penitence and spiritual renewal.
Yom Kippur is the tenth day of penitence.
This is the most holy day in the Jewish
year. It is marked by fasting and prayer, as
people ask forgiveness from both God and
fellow humans.
Passover celebrates the liberation of the
Jews from Egyptian bondage. During this
eight-day festival, matzah (unleavened
bread) is eaten. The Seder is a ritual meal
that occurs on the eves of the first two
days of Passover.
Wednesday evening, September 4, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Friday evening, September 13, 2013
Saturday, September 14, 2013
(all day and evening)
Monday evening, April 14, 2014
Tuesday evening, April 15, 2014
(see below for other days of Passover)
Students and staff may be absent for the following holy days:
Sukkot
Simchat Torah
Passover (last two days)
Sukkot is the eight-day Jewish festival of
thanksgiving and harvest. The eighth day
is Shemini Atzeret (see below).
Simchat Torah celebrates the conclusion
of the public reading of the five books
of Moses and its beginning anew, thus
affirming that the study of God’s word is
an unending process.
The first two days and the last two days
of Passover celebrate the liberation from
Egyptian bondage.
Wednesday evening, September 18, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Friday, September 20, 2013
Shemini Atzeret
Wednesday evening, September 25, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Shemini Atzeret is the eighth day of
Sukkot, on which special memorial prayers
are said.
Thursday evening, September 26, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
Shavuot
Tuesday evening, June 3, 2014
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Shavuot celebrates the covenant
established at Mount Sinai between God
and Israel, and the revelation of the Ten
Commandments.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
(see above for other days of Passover)
What About Hanukkah?
The eight-day Festival of Lights, Hanukkah,
celebrates the triumph of religious liberty and
the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem
by the Maccabees in 165 BCE. Hanukkah is
a minor Jewish festival that does not require
missing work or school. It begins Wednesday
evening, November 27, with the last night
being Thursday, December 5, 2013.