Jewish Holidays Australia
Welcome to our guide to Jewish holidays in Australia. An important thing to keep in mind is that in a Hebrew calendar, days are measured as beginning and ending at sunset, not midnight! Each year, every holiday is celebrated on the same day on the Hebrew Calendar, meaning that they are on different days every year on the Gregorian calendar. All festivals and holidays are noted in chronological order and, to account for differences in dates between years, each will be provided for the next three years in both the Gregorian/Civil and Jewish Calendars to provide for future planning.
Tu Bishvat
Tu Bishvat, the New Year of Trees, begins the Jewish holiday Calendar and is celebrated by eating fruit, particularly the seven species which include: raisins, olives, pomegranates, wheat, barley, figs and dates. It is also celebrated by planting trees and having parties around them.
Tu Bishvat, the New Year of Trees dates:
15th of Shvat, 5778
30 January, 2018
20 January, 2019
9 February, 2020
Purim
In Purim, Jews across the world remember and commemorate being saved from the persecution of Hamam in the ancient Persian Empire. Purim is a festive time of dressing up in costumes and celebrating with song and dance and has a reputation of the most energetic holiday in the Jewish calendar.
Purim dates:
14th of Adar, 5778
1 March 2018
20 March 2019
9 March 2020
Pesach
Pesach, celebrated on the 11-12 of April this year, known as Passover in English celebrates the Exodus, the freedom of the Children of Israel from slavery in Ancient Egypt. While this is not a federal holiday, many Jewish families choose to take vacation. Lasting for between 7-8 days,
Pesach, Passover dates:
15th of Nisan, 5778
First day dates:
31 March 2018
19 April 2019
8 April 2020
Yom Hashoah
Yom Hashoah, known in English as Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a time that Jews in Australia and across the world remember and commemorate the persecution of the Holocaust. This holiday has an emphasis on education regarding the not-so-distant past.
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day dates:
27th of Nisan, 5778
11 April 2018
1 May 2019
20 April 2020
Yom Hazikaron
Yom Hazikaron, known in English as Israel Remembrance Day commemorates fallen soldiers as well as civilian victims of terrorism.
Yom Hazikaron, Israel Remembrance Day dates:
3rd of Iyyar, 5778
18 April 2018
7 May 2019
27 April 2020
Yom Ha’atzmaut
Yom Ha’atzmaut, also known as Israel Independence Day commemorates the Israeli Declaration of Independence that occurred in 1948.
Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel Independence Day dates:
4th of Iyyar, 5778
19 April 2018
8 May 2019
28 April 2020
Lag B’omer
Lag B’omer is a minor event on the Jewish holiday calendar that celebrates the anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.
Lag B’Omer, 33rd Day of the Omer dates:
18th of Iyyar, 5778
3 May 2018
22 May 2019
11 May 2020
Yom Yerushalayim
Yom Yerushalayim, also known as Jerusalem Day, honors the reunification of Jerusalem and Israeli control of the Old City in 1967.
Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day dates:
28th of Iyyar, 5778
13 May 2018
1 June 2019
21 May 2020
Shavuot
Shavuot, celebrated on May 31 of this year, is the Festival of Weeks and is one of the most popular major Jewish Festivals among Jewish Australians.
6th of Sivan, 5778
Shavuot, Festival of Weeks dates:
31 May 2017
20 May , 2018
9 June 2019
29 May 2020
Tisha B’av
Tisha B’av, the Fast of Av, is an annual fast day that remembers and honors the destruction of both the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem
Tisha B’av, Fast of Av dates:
9th of Av, 5777
31 July 2017
21 July 2018
10 August 2019
29 July 2020
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, is a two day celebration of the first day of the first month of the Jewish civil year.
Rosh Hashanah, New Year dates:
1st of Tishrei, 5778
20 September 2017
9 September 2018
29 September 2019
18 September 2020
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, known in English as the Day of Atonement, in which forgiveness of sins is asked from God. This is considered the holiest of all days in the Jewish calendar and includes a number of pious acts including reflecting on life and repenting for sins, attending synagogue and reading from the Torah.
Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement dates:
10th of Tishrei 5778
29 September 2017
18 September 2018
8 October 2019
27 September 2020
Sukkot
Sukkot, which will start on October 5 of this year in Australia, is the start of the Feast of Tabernacles, starting on the 15th day of Tishri in the Jewish calendar. This is a symbolic holiday in which many Jewish families choose to construct a temporary shelter known as a sukkah, which is used for spending time, sleeping and performing ritual blessings using four plants with symbolic meanings.
Sukkot, the start of the Feast of Tabernacles period begins at sundown the date before the one specified for the holiday:
15th of Tishrei, 5778
5 October 2017
24 September 2018
14 October 2019
3 October 2020
Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Assembly, and often celebrated concurrently with Simchat Torah, is a celebration of the love of God.
Shemini Atzeret, Eighth Day of Assembly dates:
22nd of Tishrei, 5778
12 October 2017
30 September 2018
20 October 2019
9 October 2020
Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah is the celebration of the Torah, which marks the conclusion of one cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of the next.
Simchat Torah, Celebration of the Torah dates:
23rd of Tishrei, 5778
12 October 2017
1 October 2018
21 October 2019
10 October 2020
Chanukah
Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates for eight days in order to commemorate the miracle of the menorah burning for eight days. This is the most flexible of Jewish holidays, but traditional celebrations include a nightly menorah lighting with special prayers and fried food.
Chanukah, Festival of Lights dates:
25th of Kislev, 5778
12 December 2017
2 December 2018
22 December 2019
10 December 2020