This table provides key dates of the major celebrated Jewish festivals.
In addition to these, each week Jewish people observe the Sabbath (Shabbat), which begins on Friday evenings and ends on Saturday evenings. To find the exact start and end times of the Sabbath in your area, please visit https://www.hebcal.com/
Please be aware that, like the Sabbath, Jewish festivals begin and end in the evening. As we follow a lunar calendar, the dates of festivals change every year. To check dates further into the future, visit https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/
Jewish observance varies across different communities and individuals. If you are unsure how Jewish students may be observing a particular festival on your campus, please get in touch.
If you have any further questions, or would like clarification on how best to support Jewish students, please email Hodaya at [email protected]
Additionally, if you would like further guidance about supporting Jewish students during the festivals, please refer to UJS' Best Practice Guidance (page 20): https://assets.nationbuilder.com/ujs/pages/60824/attachments/original/1779092355/Best_Practice_Guidance.pdf?1779092355
Thank you for taking the time to support Jewish students!
|
Name of Festival |
2026/27 dates |
2027/28 dates |
Explanation of Festival |
Appropriate greeting |
Additional information |
|
Rosh Hashanah (2 Days) |
Evening of 11/09/2026 to evening of 13/09/2026 |
Evening of 01/10/27 to evening of 03/10/27 |
Jewish new year, commonly celebrated by eating apple and honey and sounding the shofar (a trumpet made from a hollowed ram’s horn). Many will celebrate with festive meals and go to synagogue. |
Happy new year! Have a happy and sweet new year! Shana tova! (happy new year in hebrew) |
Traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes. |
|
Yom Kippur (1 day) |
Evening of 20/09/2026 to evening of 21/09/2026 |
Evening of 10/10/27 to 11/10/27 |
Day of atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Most people fast for 25 hours on this day and attend synagogue, and it focuses on reflection and repentance. |
Gmar Chatima Tova (May you be inscribed for good). Have a meaningful and easy fast. |
Traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes. Most will also be fasting from sunset to sunset. |
|
Sukkot (1 week) |
Evening of 25/09/2026 to evening of 02/10/2026
|
Evening of 15/10/2027 to evening of 22/10/2027 |
Sukkot commemorates the forty years of wandering by the Jewish people in the desert. It is the festival of Booths when Jewish people build temporary booths with rooves made of branches. They also shake a bundle of specific branches and fruit known as the 4 species. Many will celebrate with festive meals and go to synagogue. |
Happy Sukkot!
Chag sameach! (happy festival!) |
On the first two days, traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes. |
|
Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (2 days)
|
Evening of 02/10/2026 to evening of 04/10/2026
|
Evening of 22/10/2027 to evening of 24/10/2027 |
Shmini Atzeret is a harvest festival which includes a prayer for rain. Simchat Torah celebrates finishing a cycle of reading the Torah (bible) and begin the cycle again. Many will celebrate with festive meals and go to synagogue.
|
Chag Sameach!
Happy Holidays! |
Traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes.
|
|
Chanukah (8 days) |
Evening of 04/12/2026 to evening of 12/12/2026 |
Evening of 24/10/2027 to evening of 31/10/2027 |
Festival of lights, Jewish people light candelabras (menorahs) each evening to celebrate the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greek occupation during the Hasmonean dynasty. |
Chanukah Sameach! (Happy Chanukah!) |
It is custom to eat oily foods during this period, you may see donuts being handed out on campus, as well as Menorah lightings and celebrations. |
|
Purim (1 day) |
Evening of 22/03/2027 to evening of 23/03/2027 |
Evening of 11/03/2028 to evening of 12/03/2028 |
Jewish people celebrate the story of Jewish survival in the face of genocide by Haman in ancient Persia, they also have festive meals and dress in fancy dress. |
Happy Purim!
Chag Purim sameach!
|
You may see Jewish students dressed in fancy dress around campus. |
|
Pesach (8 days) |
Evening of 21/04/2027 to evening of 29/04/2027
|
Evening of 10/03/2028 to 18/04/2028 |
Passover, Jewish people remember the exodus from Egypt and do not eat leavened bread, or wheat products. They also have a Seder, a communal/family gathering to tell the story of the Exodus. |
Happy Passover/ Pesach!
Chag sameach! |
On the first 2 days and the last 2 days, traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes. Many Jewish students return to their parents’ home for this holiday. |
|
Shavuot (2 days) |
Evening of 10/06/2027 to evening of 12/06/2027
|
Evening of 30/05/2028 to evening of 01/06/2028 |
Commemorates the revelation of the Torah (bible) at Mount Sinai. Jewish people often stay up all night learning and eat dairy foods - commonly cheesecake! |
Happy Shavuot!
Chag Sameach! |
During this period, traditionally observant Jewish students do not use electricity, write, drive, they cannot attend university classes. |
|
Tisha B’Av (1 day)
|
Evening of 12/08/2027 to evening of 13/08/2027
|
Evening of 31/07/2028 to evening of 01/08/2028 |
A day of mourning for the Jewish people commemorating several historical tragedies, most notably the destruction of the first and second temples. |
None - It is customary to avoid greetings all together, due to the solemn nature of the day |
During this day, many Jewish students may be fasting and abstain from fun activities, for example listening to music. They may spend much of the day reflecting and learning. |