2023 Jewish Holidays Dates and Celebrations Overview

2023 is set to be a special year in the Jewish faith, with many important holidays to celebrate and commemorate. From Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, to Chanukah and Purim, find out about all the important dates on the 2023 Jewish calendar.

Fast of Tevet 10- 3 January

Asarah B’Tevet commemorates the day in 425 BCE when Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, laid siege to Jerusalem. This fast day is observed with a special memorial service, fasting and repentance. It falls on the 10th of Tevet (this year, January 3,2023) and marks the beginning of a three-week period culminating with the anniversary of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.

15 Shevat- 6 February

Commemorated on the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar, Tu Bishvat, also known as Rosh Hashanah la’Ilanot or the New Year of Trees, is a celebration of nature. This special day marks a new and sacred cycle for trees in which their sap begins to swirl and growth begins anew.

Purim 6 March - 7 March

Purim is a holiday that commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people, as told in the Book of Esther, from Haman’s evil plot during the reign of King Ahasuerus who ruled over Persia in ancient times. It is marked by a day of lighthearted celebration, reflection on justice and mercy, and merriment including masquerades and feasting.

Passover- 5 April to 13 April

Passover is one of the most important holidays in Judaism, and for those celebrating it 2023 marks the starting date of 5 April. This eight-day festival celebrates liberation from slavery and commemorates the ancient Israelites’ journey out of Egypt. Celebrations usually involve setting up a special Seder meal on the first two nights of Passover, and telling stories to your family about the Exodus as part of the Pesach holiday. During this time Jews avoid all leavened products such as bread, cakes and alcoholic drinks made with yeast or grain.

Second Passover- 5 May

To give everyone another opportunity to keep the traditional Passover feast, a special holiday called the Second Passover (or Pesach Sheni in Hebrew) is held thirty days after the original festival. This second passover gives those who missed out on celebrating with friends and family, or from observing unwieldy rules of ritual purity, a chance to reach their spiritual potential.

Lag B'Omer- 9 May

Lag BaOmer is a joyous holiday in the Jewish calendar remembering the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the author of the Zohar. It also marks the anniversary of an end to a plague amongst Rabbi Akiva’s disciples. The day celebrates the cessation of death brought upon by this unfortunate epidemic, honouring this incredible event with festivities.

Shavuot- 25 May to 27 May

Shavuot is an important Jewish holiday that marks the celebration of the giving of the Torah, and falls on 25 May to 27 May in 2023. This festival often involves reading from the book of Ruth, having dairy-based meals and serving many types of cheesecakes. People from different synagogues around the world attend late night services or Tikkun Leil Shavuot to study and discuss traditional practices related to this celebration.

The Three Weeks 6 July to 27 July

The Three Weeks is an annual period of mourning lasting from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. This period culminates in the commemoration of Tisha B’Av, when both Temples were destroyed. Jews all over the world observe these days by refraining from joyful activities and remembering the sorrows of exile.

Rosh Hashanah- 15 September to 17 September

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish year and celebrates renewal. It is a two-day holiday that begins on the first day of Tishrei, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. Celebrations typically begin with raucous noise making and feasting alongside joyful readings from religious texts. Many people exchange gifts for Rosh Hashanah, such as honey or apples to represent their hope for a sweet year ahead. Observant Jews mark the occasion by abstaining from activities like working, writing, and using electronics in celebration of this holy day.

Yom Kippur- 24 September to 25 September

Yom Kippur, which falls on the tenth day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, is a day for fasting and repenting for sins. It is also known as the Day of Atonement and it marks the end of the High Holidays after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. After abstaining from activities such as working on this holy day, Jews typically spend time in synagogue and recite prayers in an attempt to communicate with God more intimately. The goal is to receive divine forgiveness for all sins committed during the past year. When darkness descends in the evening, Yom Kippur ends with a final Ne’ila prayer closely followed by festive meal enjoyed together by everyone that celebrated previous days ascetically.

Sukkot- 29 September to 6 October

Sukkot is a Jewish holiday that spans seven days, and encourages us to celebrate by building a sukkah hut, taking the Four Kinds, and rejoicing. This holiday acknowledges our appreciation for G-d’s protection of the Israelites on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The Four Kinds also symbolize unity and our belief in G-d’s presence over all. After Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot is a time for rejoice with friends and family.

Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah- 6 October 8 October

Chanukah 7 December to 15 December

On the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, Jews around the world observe a fast known as “The Fast of Tevet” or “Asarah B’Tevet.” It is a day of mourning and repentance, commemorating important events in Jewish history, including Nebuchadnezzar’s siege on Jerusalem which eventually led to its destruction.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
30	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31	1	2	3

2023 Jewish Holidays Dates and Celebrations Overview