Public holidays in Israel

Note: for exact dates in the Gregorian calendar see Jewish holidays 2000-2050.

Public holidays in Israel refers to national holidays officially recognized by the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Independence Day is observed by all citizens while others are Jewish religious festivals.

The following list includes national holidays, Jewish holidays, fast days and memorial days. Many businesses and government offices allow workers to choose an additional one or two days of leave from the list of non-official holidays. Collective leave is also a common habit in many businesses and government offices during Chol HaMoed. All holidays start at sunset, and workplaces typically close down on the afternoon of the holiday's eve. Some services resume their work the following evening, while most workers continue the holiday until the next morning.

Weekends in Israel are Friday to Saturday. The law designates 36 hours of weekly holiday from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning, but most businesses and offices are closed all day on Fridays.

Date in Hebrew calendar English name Hebrew name Range of dates in Gregorian calendar Status
Tishrei 1-2 New Year ראש השנה
Rosh Hashanah
between Sept 5 & Oct 5 Official holiday (2 days)
Tishrei 3 Fast of Gedaliah צום גדליה
Fast of Gedalia
Business as usual
Tishrei 10 Day of Atonement יום כיפור
Yom Kippur
between Sept 14 & Oct 14 Official holiday, businesses close around noon on the holiday's eve. Absolutely all businesses nationwide are closed. Virtually no traffic on the streets with the exception of emergency vehicles. Non-emergency services that normally operate on holidays, e.g. airports, border crossings, broadcasting stations etc. suspend their work for about 28–30 hours.
Tishrei 15 Feast of Tabernacles סוכות
Sukkot
between Sept 19 & Oct 19 Official holiday
Tishrei 16-21 Feast of Tabernacles חול המועד סוכות
Chol HaMoed
between Sept 19 & Oct 19 School holiday, collective paid leave in many businesses and government offices
Tishrei 22 Simchat Torah/Shmini Atzeret שמחת תורה/שמיני עצרת
Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret
between Sept 26 & Oct 26 Official holiday
Heshvan 12 Memorial day for Yitzhak Rabin יום הזיכרון ליצחק רבין
Yom Hazikaron leYitzhak Rabin]]
National remembrance day, business as usual
Heshvan 29 Sigd סיגד
Sigd
Festival of the Ethiopian Jews, optional paid leave, business as usual
Kislev 25-Tevet 2/3 Hanukkah חנוכה
Hanukkah
between Nov 27 & Dec 27 School holiday for the duration of the 8 day festival, business as usual
Tevet 10 Tenth of Tevet צום עשרה בטבת
Tsom Asarah b-Tevet
Business as usual
Shvat 15 Tu Bishvat (Arbor Day) ט"ו בשבט
Tu Bishvat
Business as usual
Adar 13 Fast of Esther תענית אסתר
Ta`anit Ester
School holiday, Business as usual
Adar 14 (Adar 15 in some places) Purim פורים
Purim
between February 24 & March 26 School holiday, optional paid leave
Nisan 10 Aliyah Day[1] יום העליה
Yom HaAliyah
between March & April School holiday, Business as usual
Nisan 15 Passover פסח
Pesach
between March 26 & April 25 Official holiday
Nisan 16-20 Passover (intermediate days) חול המועד פסח
Chol HaMoed Pesach
between March 26 & April 25 School holiday, collective paid leave in many businesses and government offices
Nisan 21 Seventh day of Passover שביעי של פסח
Shvi'i shel Pesach
between April 1 & May 1 Official holiday
Nisan 22 Mimouna מימונה
Mimouna
between April 1 & May 1 Unpaid leave upon request[2]
Nisan 27 Holocaust Remembrance Day יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה
Yom HaZikaron LaShoah VeLaGevurah
between April 7 & May 7 National remembrance day, business as usual except places of public entertainment
May 9 Victory Day over Nazi Germany יום הניצחון על גרמניה הנאצית Victory Day (May 9) National remembrance day, business as usual
Iyar 4 Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism Remembrance Day יום הזיכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ונפגעי פעולות האיבה
Yom Hazikaron
between April 14 & May 14 National remembrance day, business as usual except places of public entertainment
Iyar 5 Independence Day יום העצמאות
Yom Ha-Atzmaut
between April 15 & May 15 Official holiday
Iyar 18 Lag BaOmer ל"ג בעומר
Lag Ba'omer
School holiday
Iyar 28 Jerusalem Day יום ירושלים
Yom Yerushalayim
Optional paid leave
Sivan 6 Shavuot שבועות
Shavuot
between May 15 & June 14 Official holiday
Tammuz 17 Seventeenth of Tammuz, fast שבעה עשר בתמוז
Tsom Shiva` Asar b-Tammuz
Business as usual
Av 9 Tisha B'Av, fast תשעה באב
Tisha B'Av
Optional paid leave, business as usual except places of public entertainment
Av 15 Tu B'Av (Fifteen of Av, Festival of Love) ט"ו באב
Tu B'Av
Business as usual

See also

References

  1. [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.726833?v=25889A989187F43C1E25FBBF142DC48C Rank and file: Aliyah Day becomes official holiday, Haaretz
  2. Jeffay, Nathan (12 April 2012). "Mimouna Revelries Mark End of Passover". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
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