Understanding Jewish Holidays: What Jewish Holiday Is Today and What It Means

Jewish holidays are more than just festive occasions; they embody centuries-old traditions, commemorate historical events, and convey spiritual values. Each holiday has a unique purpose and significance, offering valuable life lessons, promoting gratitude, and deepening one’s connection to faith and heritage.

This post will guide you through the Jewish calendar’s most prominent holidays and what each one represents.

What Holiday Is It Today?

Jewish holidays are based on the Hebrew lunar calendar, which does not align perfectly with the Gregorian calendar used by most of the world.

Therefore, each year, the dates of Jewish holidays shift. By checking the Hebrew date, you can determine if today coincides with a Jewish holiday.

Below, we delve into major Jewish holidays, covering their historical significance, cultural practices, and how they shape Jewish life today.

Upcoming Jewish Holidays in 2025 (USA – List Only)

1. Tu BiShvat (New Year for Trees): February 12, 2025
2. Purim: March 14, 2025
3. 2025 Passover (Pesach): April 12–19, 2025
4. Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day): April 29, 2025
5. Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day): May 5, 2025
6. Yom HaAtzmaut (Israeli Independence Day): May 6, 2025
7. Lag BaOmer: May 25, 2025
8. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks): June 1–3, 2025
9. Tisha B’Av (Ninth of Av): August 5–6, 2025
10. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year): September 23–25, 2025
11. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): October 2–3, 2025
12. Sukkot (Festival of Booths): October 7–14, 2025
13. Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly): October 14–15, 2025
14. Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah): October 15–16, 2025
15. Hanukkah (Festival of Lights): December 24, 2025–January 1, 2026

Overview of Major Jewish Holidays

Here’s a detailed overview of Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah, their deeper meanings, traditions, and cultural significance.

1. Shabbat (Sabbath)

• Date: Shabbat is observed weekly, beginning every Friday at sundown and concluding Saturday at sundown. In 2025, Shabbat will take place every weekend, starting with:
  • First Shabbat of 2025: January 3 (Friday evening) to January 4 (Saturday evening).
  • Last Shabbat of 2025: December 26 (Friday evening) to December 27 (Saturday evening).
• Significance:
  • Shabbat is a weekly day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation, woven deeply into the rhythm of Jewish life. It is rooted in the biblical story of creation, where God rests on the seventh day after six days of creation (Genesis 2:1-3). Observing Shabbat is not only a commandment but also a way for individuals to connect with the divine rhythm, pausing from everyday tasks to renew both body and soul.
  • In the Ten Commandments, the observance of Shabbat is emphasized as a sign of God’s covenant with the Jewish people, symbolizing faith, trust, and dedication.
• Observances:
  • Preparation: The preparations for Shabbat often begin well before sunset on Friday, as families clean, cook, and set their homes to welcome the Sabbath. Special foods are prepared, often including challah bread, fish, and traditional Jewish dishes.
  • Candle Lighting: At sundown, Shabbat begins with the lighting of two candles, symbolizing remembrance and observance of the Sabbath. This act brings peace into the home and marks the transition from the weekday routine to the sacred time of rest.
  • Blessings and Meals: Families recite blessings over wine (kiddush) and challah bread, signifying sanctity and sustenance. The Friday night meal and the Saturday lunch are festive and often involve singing, storytelling, and Torah discussion, creating an atmosphere of warmth and connection.
  • Prayer and Rest: Shabbat services are held in synagogues on Friday night and Saturday morning. Observant Jews refrain from activities considered “work,” such as using electronics, driving, or cooking. Instead, they focus on prayer, study, rest, and spending time with family and friends.
  • Havdalah: Shabbat concludes on Saturday evening with a brief Havdalah ceremony, involving blessings over wine, spices, and a braided candle. This marks the end of the Sabbath and the beginning of a new week, often accompanied by a sense of renewal.
• Cultural Importance: Shabbat provides a space for reconnecting with family, spirituality, and community. In an increasingly fast-paced world, Shabbat’s rhythm offers a reminder to slow down, reconnect with loved ones, and focus on the non-material aspects of life.

2. Purim: March 14, 2025

• Date: 14th of Adar (usually March).
• Significance:
  • Purim commemorates the story of Queen Esther and the Jewish people’s deliverance from Haman’s plot to destroy them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. It is a joyous holiday that celebrates courage, identity, and the triumph of good over evil.
  • The story of Purim highlights the theme of hidden miracles and reminds Jews to trust in divine protection even when circumstances seem bleak.
• Observances:
  • Reading the Megillah: The story of Purim is read from the Megillah (Book of Esther) during synagogue services. Congregants use noise-makers (groggers) to drown out Haman’s name, symbolizing the rejection of evil.
  • Costumes and Celebration: Purim is a festive holiday where people dress in costumes, a tradition symbolizing the hidden nature of the miracle in the story of Esther. Celebrants often choose costumes that represent themes of transformation, freedom, and joy.
  • Mishloach Manot: One of Purim’s mitzvot is the sending of mishloach manot, gifts of food to friends and neighbors, to foster community bonds and celebration.
  • Charity (Matanot La’evyonim): Purim encourages generosity through charity, as Jews are commanded to give to those in need, ensuring that everyone can participate in the holiday’s joy.
  • Festive Meal: Purim is celebrated with a special meal featuring traditional foods and treats like hamantaschen (triangle-shaped pastries), symbolizing the defeat of Haman.
• Cultural Importance: Purim’s themes of courage, joy, and community foster a spirit of unity and celebration. The holiday serves as a reminder to stand against oppression, embrace identity, and find joy in shared traditions. The festive costumes, lively celebrations, and acts of charity create a joyful, inclusive atmosphere that resonates across communities.

• Date: Begins on the 15th of Nisan, lasting 7–8 days (usually in April).
• Significance:
  • Passover commemorates the Exodus, the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, which is one of the most pivotal events in Jewish history. The story of the Exodus highlights themes of freedom, faith, and the divine power of redemption.
  • This holiday also emphasizes the importance of remembering past struggles to cultivate gratitude and a sense of purpose. By reliving the story each year, Jewish people reconnect with their ancestors’ journey and affirm their identity and faith.
• Observances:
  • Seder Meal: The first two nights of Passover are marked by the seder, a ceremonial meal that follows the order (or “seder”) outlined in the Haggadah. The Haggadah, a central text for the holiday, contains the story of the Exodus and guides participants through prayers, songs, and symbolic rituals.
  • Matzah: Instead of leavened bread, Jews eat matzah (unleavened bread), symbolizing the Israelites’ haste in leaving Egypt, as they had no time for their bread to rise. Matzah serves as a reminder of humility and freedom.
  • Symbolic Foods: Other foods on the seder plate include maror (bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery), charoset (a sweet mixture representing the mortar used by the Israelites in building), karpas (a vegetable dipped in saltwater to symbolize tears), and z’roa (a shank bone symbolizing the Passover lamb sacrifice).
  • Questions and Storytelling: A unique part of the seder is the “Four Questions,” typically asked by the youngest family member, encouraging curiosity and storytelling, which reinforces the transmission of Jewish history and values.
• Cultural Importance: Passover is not only a commemoration but also a time for families to come together in celebration. It emphasizes themes of liberation and resilience, with its rituals fostering intergenerational connection and pride in Jewish heritage.

4. Shavuot (Feast of Weeks): June 1–2, 2025

• Date: 6th of Sivan, occurring seven weeks after Passover.
• Significance:
  • Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, considered the foundation of Jewish law, identity, and ethics. This holiday marks a pivotal moment in Jewish faith, symbolizing a covenant between God and the Jewish people.
  • The counting of seven weeks, or “Omer,” from Passover to Shavuot symbolizes the journey from physical freedom to spiritual enlightenment.
• Observances:
  • Torah Study: In honor of receiving the Torah, many Jews participate in an all-night study session, called Tikkun Leil Shavuot, delving into Torah and Jewish teachings. This practice emphasizes a dedication to learning, wisdom, and faith.
  • Decorating with Greenery: Synagogues and homes are often adorned with greenery and flowers, representing Mount Sinai in bloom and symbolizing renewal, growth, and life.
  • Dairy Foods: Traditional foods for Shavuot are dairy-based, with favorites including cheesecake, blintzes, and other milk-based dishes. This custom symbolizes the “land flowing with milk and honey” and also represents the purity of Torah.
  • Reading the Book of Ruth: The Book of Ruth is read during Shavuot, as its themes of loyalty, kindness, and acceptance mirror the values embodied in the Torah and the holiday itself.
• Cultural Importance: Shavuot reinforces the Jewish commitment to ethical living, learning, and spiritual growth. The holiday highlights the value of kindness and loyalty, both within the Jewish community and toward all humanity.

• Date: 9th of Av (late July or early August).
• Significance:
  • Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning, marking the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, among other tragedies in Jewish history. It is considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, commemorating various instances of suffering and exile.
  • This solemn day calls for reflection on the consequences of societal division, hatred, and oppression, offering a time for communal mourning and remembrance.
• Observances:
  • 24-Hour Fast: Similar to Yom Kippur, Tisha B’Av involves a full fast from food and drink for 24 hours, symbolizing grief and humility.
  • Reading the Book of Lamentations: The Book of Lamentations is recited in synagogue, often in a low, mournful tone, recounting the devastation of Jerusalem and the sorrow of exile. This reading captures the depth of loss and despair experienced during these historical events.
  • Restrained Activities: Many traditional activities, such as sitting on chairs, bathing, or greeting others, are avoided, fostering an atmosphere of solemn reflection. Synagogues are dimly lit, and worshipers sit on the floor to symbolize mourning.
  • Mourning Customs: The three-week period leading up to Tisha B’Av is marked by gradual intensification of mourning practices, such as refraining from haircuts, music, and joyous events.
• Cultural Importance: Tisha B’Av serves as a reminder of resilience, empathy, and the importance of unity. By acknowledging past suffering and expressing collective grief, Jewish people strengthen their sense of identity and resolve to prevent future tragedies. It also promotes the values of empathy and solidarity within the community.

6. Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year): September 23–24, 2025

• Date: 1st and 2nd of Tishrei (typically 23-24 September).
• Significance:
  • Rosh Hashanah, which means “Head of the Year,” is both a celebration of the Jewish New Year and a time for introspection and personal growth. It marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a ten-day period (also known as the Ten Days of Repentance) that culminates with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
  • According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of humanity, a day when God judges all creatures and inscribes each person’s fate for the coming year in the Book of Life. It’s a time to reflect on past actions, seek forgiveness, and make resolutions for positive change.
• Observances:
  • Blowing the Shofar: One of the most distinctive and symbolic practices of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar, a ram’s horn, during synagogue services. The shofar’s piercing sound is a “wake-up call” that encourages individuals to engage in self-reflection and to return to their best selves. Traditionally, it is blown 100 times over the holiday, with sounds that convey urgency, reflection, and hope.
  • Tashlich Ceremony: On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, many Jews perform a ritual called Tashlich, meaning “to cast off.” During Tashlich, participants go to a natural body of water and symbolically cast off their sins by throwing pieces of bread into the water. This act signifies a fresh start and a desire to leave past mistakes behind.
  • Special Prayers and Liturgies: Rosh Hashanah services are longer than usual, with prayers focused on repentance, hope, and renewal. Key prayers include the Unetanneh Tokef, which speaks about the awe of judgment, and the Avinu Malkeinu, a heartfelt plea for forgiveness, healing, and blessing.
  • Symbolic Foods: Food plays a meaningful role in Rosh Hashanah traditions. Apples dipped in honey represent a wish for a sweet year, and round challah bread symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. Other foods, such as pomegranates, are eaten as symbols of abundance and good deeds.
• Cultural Importance: Rosh Hashanah is a time to gather with family and community, share festive meals, and engage in self-reflection and introspection. It encourages individuals to look forward to a new year with optimism, commitment to growth, and a spirit of compassion. The themes of renewal and forgiveness resonate universally, offering lessons that are meaningful not only within Judaism but also for those of other faiths and backgrounds.

7. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement): October 2, 2025

• Date: 10th of Tishrei, 10 days after Rosh Hashanah.
• Significance:
  • Known as the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur is a solemn day devoted to reflection, repentance, and atonement for sins. It marks the end of the Ten Days of Repentance that began on Rosh Hashanah, and it is believed that on this day, God seals each person’s fate for the coming year.
  • Yom Kippur is a time for personal transformation, encouraging individuals to seek forgiveness not only from God but also from others whom they may have wronged, thereby fostering renewed relationships and personal growth.
• Observances:
  • Fasting: Yom Kippur is observed with a 25-hour fast, during which individuals refrain from eating, drinking, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and using perfumes or lotions. The fast symbolizes humility, repentance, and spiritual focus, removing physical distractions to focus on prayer and introspection.
  • Prayer Services: Synagogue services on Yom Kippur are longer and more intense than on any other day, with a series of specific prayers and rituals. These include the Vidui (confession) prayers, where worshipers recite sins collectively, acknowledging human imperfections and seeking forgiveness.
  • Ne’ilah Service: The day concludes with the Ne’ilah service, a powerful closing prayer where the imagery of closing gates symbolizes the final moments of judgment. The shofar is blown one final time at the end of the fast, signaling the end of Yom Kippur and the hope of renewal.
• Cultural Importance: Yom Kippur’s emphasis on forgiveness and repentance provides a profound opportunity for individuals to reconnect with their values, reflect on their actions, and make commitments for self-improvement in the year ahead. It is a day for community and personal introspection, where individuals seek to become their best selves.

8. Sukkot (Festival of Booths): October 16–22, 2025

• Date: Begins on the 15th of Tishrei, lasting 7 days.
• Significance:
  • Sukkot is a joyful holiday that commemorates the 40-year journey of the Israelites in the desert after their liberation from Egypt. During this time, they lived in temporary shelters or booths (sukkot), reminding them of God’s protection and guidance.
  • Also known as the “Festival of Ingathering,” Sukkot is connected to the agricultural cycle, celebrating the harvest and emphasizing themes of gratitude, faith, and reliance on God’s protection.
• Observances:
  • Building the Sukkah: Families build a sukkah, a temporary shelter with an open roof covered by natural materials like branches and leaves. The sukkah is often decorated with fruits, lights, and other festive items. During Sukkot, families eat meals in the sukkah, and some even sleep in it, symbolizing a return to simplicity and reliance on divine protection.
  • The Four Species: A key mitzvah of Sukkot is waving the “Four Species” — lulav (palm branch), etrog (citron), hadas (myrtle), and aravah (willow). These four plants, which symbolize unity and completeness, are held together and waved in six directions, expressing gratitude and reverence.
  • Joyful Celebration: Sukkot is known as “Zman Simchateinu” (The Season of Our Joy), and it is celebrated with singing, dancing, and communal meals. The joy and gratitude reflect a sense of trust and appreciation for both physical and spiritual sustenance.
• Cultural Importance: Sukkot is a celebration of gratitude and unity, encouraging individuals to appreciate life’s essentials and recognize the interconnectedness of people and nature. Living in the sukkah also fosters empathy for those in less secure living situations and reminds individuals of the beauty in simplicity.

9. Hanukkah (Festival of Lights): December 24–31, 2025

• Date: 25th of Kislev, lasting 8 days (typically December).
• Significance:
  • Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees’ victory over the oppressive Greek-Syrian rule. It celebrates the miracle of a small amount of oil, which was only enough for one day, miraculously lasting for eight days and allowing the Jews to rekindle the Temple’s menorah.
  • Hanukkah symbolizes resilience, the right to religious freedom, and the triumph of light over darkness.
• Observances:
  • Lighting the Menorah: Each night, one additional candle is lit on the menorah (or hanukkiah) until all eight candles are illuminated on the final night. The menorah is placed in a visible location to share the miracle of Hanukkah with the community, symbolizing hope and resilience.
  • Playing Dreidel: The dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a popular Hanukkah game played with chocolate coins or candy. Each side of the dreidel is marked with a Hebrew letter, representing the phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” (“A great miracle happened there”).
  • Eating Fried Foods: Foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) are traditional because they are fried in oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
• Cultural Importance: Hanukkah is a reminder of the importance of religious freedom, resilience, and faith. The lighting of the menorah has become a cherished tradition that connects families and communities worldwide, inspiring them to spread light and hope.

The Cultural and Spiritual Significance of Jewish Holidays

Jewish holidays create a meaningful rhythm to life, with each holiday serving as a unique touchstone that connects the community to its heritage, values, and spirituality. Together, they shape Jewish identity, emphasize the importance of family and community, and remind individuals of the collective journey and responsibilities of the Jewish people.

These holidays reflect timeless values that resonate far beyond the Jewish community:

• Freedom and Gratitude: Passover embodies the idea of freedom and reminds individuals of the importance of gratitude, humility, and compassion.
• Faith and Wisdom: Shavuot’s celebration of the Torah underscores the significance of learning, growth, and moral responsibility.
• Resilience and Unity: Holidays like Tisha B’Av highlight the resilience of the Jewish community in the face of adversity, reinforcing the importance of unity, remembrance, and empathy.

Through these observances, Jewish holidays offer not only religious inspiration but also universal lessons on human dignity, justice, and kindness. Non-Jews can draw inspiration from these celebrations, which embody the resilience of spirit, the pursuit of wisdom, and the value of community bonds, underscoring timeless truths about compassion, faith, and perseverance.

In observing these holidays, Jewish individuals and communities reconnect with their rich heritage, honor their ancestors, and instill enduring values in future generations, creating a legacy of love, hope, and shared purpose.

Conclusion

Jewish holidays are powerful markers of history, faith, and community, offering special moments for reflection, celebration, and renewal. Whether today is a Jewish holiday or an ordinary day, exploring the meaning of these celebrations enriches our understanding of Jewish culture and the diverse ways humanity honors life’s most profound values.