Note: All Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the listed date of the holiday.

Tu B’Shevat (The New Year of the Trees/Arbor Day)
Saturday, January 30/ 15 Shevat

Purim
Sunday, February 28/24 Adar
A celebration of the saving of the Jewish community under King Ahasuerus in Shushan. The Book of Esther is read at a joyous celebration that includes costumes, noisemaker and wine.

Passover
Tuesday, March 30-Tuesday, April 6/15-22 Nisan
First Seder is at sundown, Monday, March 29
Passover is the eight-day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. A time of family gatherings and lavish meals called Seders, the story of Passover is retold through the reading of the Haggadah. With its special foods, songs, and customs, the Seder is the focal point of this Passover celebration.
Monday, April 18         JCC closes 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19         JCC Closed
Wednesday, April 20    JCC Closed
Monday, April 25             JCC Closed
Tuesday, April 26             JCC Closed

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)
Sunday, April 11/27 Nisan

Israel Memorial Day (Yom Hazikaron)
Sunday, April 18/4 Iyar

Israel Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut)
Monday, April 19/5 Iyar

Lag B’Omer
Sunday, May 2/18 Iyar
Commemorates the break in a plague during Rabbi Akiva’s time. Celebrated with field days, picnics and bonfires.

Shavuot
Wednesday, May 19-Thursday, May 20/66-7 Sivan
Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan and commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It is one of the shalosh regalim (pilgrimage festivals) and marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer (the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot). It is also a harvest holiday celebrating the first fruits of the land of Israel.
Wednesday, June 7              JCC closes at 6 p.m.
Thursday, June 8         JCC Closed
Friday, June 9            JCC Closed

Tisha B’Av
July 20/9 Av
Fast day commemorating the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem.

Rosh Hashanah
Thursday, September 9-Friday, September 10/1-2 Tishrei
Observance begins at sunset on Wednesday, September 8. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, “head of the year” and is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is one of the holiest days of the year, that is a time for Jews to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.
Wednesday, September 28     JCC closes at 6 p.m.
Thursday, September 29        JCC Closed
Friday, September 30          JCC Closed

Yom Kippur
Saturday, September 18/10 Tishrei
Yom Kippur is one of the holiest and most important holidays of the Jewish year. Many Jews will refrain from work, fast and attend synagogue services on this day. The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year.
Friday, October 7         JCC closes at 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 8     JCC Closed

Sukkot
Thursday, September 23-Wednesday, September 29/15-21 Tishrei
Sukkot commemorates the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters. Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Ingathering. The word “Sukkot” means “booths,” and refers to the temporary dwellings that Jews are commanded to live in during this holiday in memory of the period of wandering.
Wednesday, October 12     JCC closes at 6 p.m.
Thursday, October 13 JCC Closed
Friday, October 14 JCC Closed

Shemini Atzeret
Thursday, September 30/22 Tishrei
Shemini Atzeret, meaning “the eighth day of assembly,” is a Biblical Jewish holiday that follows the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
Wednesday, October 19 JCC closes at 6 p.m.
Thursday, October 20 JCC Closed

Simchat Torah
Friday, October 1/23 Tishrei
Simchat Torah means “Rejoicing in the Torah.” This holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. On Simchat Torah, we read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis. This completion of the readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torah scrolls and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing in the synagogue with the Torahs.
Friday, October 21         JCC Closed

Chanukah
Thursday, December 2-Thursday, December 9/25 Kislev-2 Tevet
Candles for the first day are lit Wednesday evening, December 1. Chanukah, the eight day Jewish festival of rededication, is also known as the festival of lights. The holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem.