The Jewish calendar features many special days throughout the year. However, as the dates for these special days are set by the Jewish calendar, their corresponding dates in the secular calendar varies from year to year. Below please find information about the secular dates on which a range of approaching Jewish special days will fall. Please also note that the Jewish ‘day’ begins at sunset, thus any holyday listed below will actually start at sunset on the previous day (and end at nightfall on the day listed).
Days marked with an asterisk are holydays on which ‘work’ (melachah in Hebrew) is not permitted – this includes writing, using electronic devices, and travelling by vehicle.
The dates for Rosh Chodesh (the commencement of the new month) are also given below as there are some changes to the prayers recited on those days.
Wednesday 22 July 2020 | Rosh Chodesh Av, commencement of the '9 Days' |
Thursday 30 July 2020 | Fast of Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av) |
Wednesday 5 August 2020 | Tu b'Av |
Thursday 20 & Friday 21 August 2020 | Rosh Chodesh Elul |
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 September 2020 | Rosh HaShanah* (Jewish New Year) |
Monday 20 September 2020 | Tzom Gedalyah (Fast of Gedaliah) |
Monday 28 September 2020 | Yom Kippur* (Day of Atonement) |
Saturday 2 & Sunday 3 October 2020 | Days 1 & 2 of Sukkot*, commencement of the festival of Sukkot |
Friday 9 October 2020 | Hoshana Rabbah (last day of Chol HaMo'ed Sukkot) |
Saturday 10 October 2020 | Shemini Atzeret* |
Sunday 11 October 2020 | Simchat Torah* (Rejoicing of the Law) |
Sunday 18 & Monday 19 October 2020 | Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan |
Tuesday 17 November 2020 | Rosh Chodesh Kislev |
Thursday 10 December 2020 | 1st Night Chanukah |
Thursday 17 December 2020 | lighting of the final Chanukah light |
Friday 18 December 2020 | Final Day Chanukah |
Friday 25 December 2020 | Fast of 10 Tevet |