| SACRED |
CIVIL |
MONTHS |
HEBREW NAMES |
DATES |
ENGLISH NAMES |
| 1 |
7 |
NISAN
AVIV |
PESACH (1st Hag)
Commemorates night before the Exodus when the death Angel destroyed all first born of Egypt but passed over all the Israelite homes protected by the blood of the lamb. |
NISAN
15-22 |
PASSOVER
Passover is celebrated with the seder meal and chanting story of Exodus from holy book Haggadah. Ritual food and wine celebrate the coming of Elijah and the Messiah. The “Song of Songs”
is read. |
HAG HAMATZAH
On the original passover, in haste of preparation for flight, there was no time for the Israelites to wait for the bread dough to rise. They ate Matzah (unleavened bread) on departure. |
NISAN
15-22 |
UNLEAVENED BREAD
A symbol of purity (1 Cor 5:8) and a picture of freedom from the slavery of sin. Celebrated seven days (Lev 23:6), eight days in the DIASPORA. |
FEAST OF FIRSTFRUITS
B'Yom Haneefchem Et Ha Omer, “The Day You Bring in the Sheaf of the Wave Offering.”
God commanded the people, once they got to the Promised Land, to bring before Him the Bikkurim (firstfruits) of their barley harvest as a wave offering (Lev 23:10, Joshua 5:12). |
NISAN
17 |
FEAST OF WEEKS
Counting of the Omer. Recalls the journey of the children of Israel from the Red Sea, fulfilling 50 days to the giving of the Torah at the Mountain of God on Shavuot. |
| 2 |
8 |
IYAR
ZIF |
YOM HAAYZMAUTH, or ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY is celebrated on IYAR 5. The Republic of Israel, was proclaimed May 14, 1948. Within a few hours, the armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon,
and Iraq, with Saudi Arabian contingents, crossed its frontiers at several points. They were defeated and Israel became a nation again after almost 2 millinea. |
| 3 |
9 |
SIVAN |
SHAVUOTH (2nd Hag)
Begins 7 weeks after Pesach ends and is the second of the 3 Pilgrim Festivals that brought all the adult Jews to Jerusalem. Celebrates the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). When the Ruach HaKodesh was poured out on the believers
in Acts 2, the law was written on our heart (Jeremiah 31:33). |
SIVAN
6-7 |
PENTECOST
Includes singing of Psalm 30, the solemn reading of the Ten Commandments and Book of Ruth emphasizing acceptance of God's law by a proselyte (Ruth 1:16, Lev 23:22). In the genealogy of Ruth, we find that King David and, therefore, Yeshua,
“the son of David,” are descended from Ruth and Boaz (see Matthew 1:5-6). |
| 4 |
10 |
TAMMUZ |
The 17th of TAMMUZ begins a 3-week period of national mourning leading up to the fast of TISHA BE-AV, the 9th day of AV. Moses broke the Tablets of the Torah; also the Babylonian
Army broke through the walls of Jerusalem and The Roman Armies attack of the Temple mount on this day caused the cessation of the sacrifice. The 9th of AV marks the Destruction of both Solomon's Temple by the Babylonians in 587 B.C and Herod's Temple by the Romans in A.D. 70. A total of eight major disasters
have occurred on this date to the nation of Israel. This is a phenomenon unprecedented in the history of all the nations of the world. Zechariah spoke of this day of mourning (7:5), but when Messiah comes, all of Israel's fasts, including this one, “shall
be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts” (Zechariah 8:19). |
| 5 |
11 |
AV |
| 6 |
12 |
ELUL |
ELUL has no special ceremony days but begins Teshuvah,
“The Season of Return.” It is a time of active preparation for the High Holy Days of TISHRI. Jews visit cemeteries to pay respect to the dead during ELUL. A Shofar is blown at morning service. |
| 7 |
1 |
TISHRI
ETHANIM |
ROSH HASHANAH
The Jewish New Year begins with Yom Teruah (an awakening blast), Tishri 1. It is observed for 2 days on Tishri 1 & 2 but is called one long day. Begins a 10 day season of repentance known as Ya'Amin Nora'Im or the “Days of Awe”. Ends on Tishri 10, which is Yom Kippur. Although
TISHRI is the beginning of the Civil Year, NISAN, the 7th month begins the Sacred Year with Passover (Exo 12:2, 13:4; Lev 23:23-24; Num 29:1). |
TISHRI
1-2
TISHRI
1-10 |
FEAST OF TRUMPETS
Rosh HaShanah means “Head of the Year”
and celebrates the anniversary of the week of re-creation (Gen 1:2-2:2). A time of rejoicing as well as a holy occasion (Neh 8:2, 9-12). Services include blowing of the Shofar (Ram's Horn), dipping bread in honey, opening the Ark of the Torah, the Akeida story
of Abraham and prayers for the peace of all mankind. |
YOM KIPPUR
Holiest Day of the Year celebrated for 2 days by Orthodox Jews. Messianic Jews reflect that Yeshua the Messiah, bore the sins of all the people as was foreshadowed by the scapegoat in the Atonement ritual. It includes 2-24 hour fasts, the making of atonement offerings, chanting of the Kol Nidre and communal
confession of sins. |
TISHRI
10 |
DAY OF ATONEMENT
Yom Kippur is the day the Cohan HaGadol (Great High Priest), came FACE TO FACE with God, known as Yom HaPeduth, The Day of Redemption. Picture of Messiah's second coming, known also as Yom HaDin, (The Day of Judgment). The Shofar HaGadol (Great Shofar) is
blown to gather the surviving believers from the awesome days. Neilah,
“closing of the gates.” |
SUCCOTH (3rd Hag)
A 7-Day festival recalling the 40 years of Wandering in the Wilderness, when God miraculously provided for Israel as they traveled and dwelt in Succoth, referring to portable booths or tents. It concludes on Hoshana Rabbah, “Great Hosanna”
(save now) and is followed by 2 special days, seen as one long day.
SHEMINI ATZERETH
In ancient Israel, the 8th day of Succoth was the day of prayer for timely rain to assure a plentiful fall harvest.
SIMCHATH TORAH
Simchath Torah, “Rejoicing in the Torah” is the Last Great Day of Succoth. |
TISHRI
15-21
TISHRI
22
TISHRI
23 |
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
Succoth is also known as the Feast of Ingathering of the spring harvest. The “Blessing of the Lulah” is performed and the Book of Ecclesiastes is read on Succoth Sabbath. It is the third Hag, or pilgrim festival.
The two special days of Shemini Atzereth and Simchath Torah are combined today in Israel. On this last great day, the annual cycle of Torah readings end and begin again. The scriptures are removed from the Ark and the people dance with great joy while embracing the Torah Scrolls.
Zeman Simhatenu is the rabbinic name for Succoth and means “The Season of our Joy.” |
| 8 |
2 |
HESHVAN
BUL |
This SECOND MONTH of the Civil Year has no Holy Days. It sometimes has 30 days, sometimes 29. It approximates the Roman Calendar month of November. HESHVAN is also known as
MARHESHVAN (Bitter Heshvan) because there are no Holy Feast Days in the month. |
| 9 |
3 |
KISLEV |
HANUKAH
Hanukah (dedication), commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C. by the Maccabees exactly 3 years after it was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes (Dan 8:13-14). |
KISLEV
25-30 |
FEAST OF LIGHTS
An 8-Candle Menorah is lit, one candle each night for 8 nights to recall the Maccabees cruse of oil that miraculously outlasted its supply. Yeshua observed this feast as is evidenced in John 10:22. |
| 10 |
4 |
TEVET |
TEVET
1-2(3) |
| 11 |
5 |
SHEVAT |
TU B'SHVAT, or ISRAEL ARBOR DAY is an important part of Israel's long program of reforestation. Thousands of private and communal plantings of tree saplings are made in both
rural and urban areas to improve and beautify the land. Celebrated on SHEVAT 15. |
| 12 |
6 |
ADAR |
PURIM
Celebrates Esther's story. She fasted to find favor before her husband King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) in order to stay the annihilation of her people. Haman had cast lots (pur) to fix the day of genocide but his treachery cost him his own life. |
ADAR
14-15 |
FEAST OF LOTS
Purim is a joyous celebration of Esther's act of faithfulness in 473 B.C. Special foods are given to the poor, the Book of Esther is read and the children twirl noisemakers whenever Haman's name is read. A special festive meal is enjoyed. |
