As the year 2025 approaches, Jewish communities worldwide eagerly anticipate the arrival of their cherished holidays. These time-honored traditions not only commemorate significant historical events but also serve as a vibrant tapestry that weaves together faith, culture, and communal celebrations. From the joyous festival of Hanukkah to the reflective period of Yom Kippur, each holiday holds a profound meaning and a unique set of traditions that have been passed down through generations.
One of the most widely celebrated Jewish holidays is Pesach, commonly known as Passover. This eight-day festival marks the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. During Pesach, Jewish families gather to share a traditional Seder meal, which includes symbolic foods such as matzah (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs). The Seder is a rich and engaging ritual that retells the story of the Exodus and reminds participants of the importance of freedom and perseverance. Passover is a time for reflection, gratitude, and the renewal of faith.
Another significant Jewish holiday is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Observed over two days in the autumn, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a period of introspection and repentance. During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish communities gather in synagogues for special prayers and services. The sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn) is a central part of the Rosh Hashanah liturgy, symbolizing a call to repentance and a reminder of God’s presence in the world. The holiday is also a time for family gatherings, festive meals, and the exchange of New Year’s greetings and well wishes.
Rosh Hashanah Observance 2025
Observance Dates
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a two-day holiday commemorating the creation of the world and the renewal of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. In 2025, Rosh Hashanah will begin on Wednesday evening, September 24, and end on Friday evening, September 26.
The first day of Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom Teruah, “the Day of Blowing the Shofar.” On this day, observant Jews attend synagogue services where the shofar, a ram’s horn, is blown 100 times. The shofar’s piercing sound is a symbol of awakening and repentance.
The second day of Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom Hazikaron, “the Day of Remembrance.” On this day, observant Jews attend synagogue services and recite special prayers known as the “Unetaneh Tokef.” These prayers reflect on the year that has passed and the challenges that lie ahead.
Rosh Hashanah is also a time for family gatherings and festive meals. Traditional foods include apples dipped in honey, symbolizing a sweet new year, and round challah bread, representing the cycle of life.
Customs and Traditions
In addition to the religious observances, there are a number of customs and traditions associated with Rosh Hashanah. These include:
| Custom | Significance |
|---|---|
| Tashlich | Casting bread crumbs into a body of water to symbolize the casting away of sins |
| Tekiyah Gedolah | A particularly long and loud blast of the shofar at the end of Yom Teruah |
| New Year’s Greetings | Wishing others a happy and sweet new year (Shanah Tovah U’Metukah) |
Yom Kippur Fasting Dates 2025
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is a day of fasting and atonement. In 2025, Yom Kippur will begin on the evening of September 28th and end on the evening of September 29th.
Fasting Times
The fast of Yom Kippur begins at sunset on the day before and ends at nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. During this time, observant Jews abstain from food, drink, and other bodily pleasures. The following table provides the fasting times for Yom Kippur 2025:
| Location | Fast Begins | Fast Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Jerusalem | 6:47 PM | 7:43 PM |
| New York City | 6:56 PM | 7:52 PM |
| London | 6:24 PM | 8:26 PM |
Sukkot Celebration Times 2025
Sukkot is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the Israelites’ journey through the desert after they were freed from slavery in Egypt. The holiday is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or the Feast of Booths.
Sukkot begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which usually falls in September or October. The holiday lasts for seven days in Israel and eight days outside of Israel.
Celebration Times for Sukkot 2025
| Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2025 | September 29, 2025 |
The first two days of Sukkot are considered to be holy days, and work is prohibited. The remaining days of the holiday are considered to be semi-holy days, and work is permitted but not encouraged.
During Sukkot, Jews build temporary shelters called sukkahs. These sukkahs are used for eating, sleeping, and relaxing. They are decorated with fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Sukkot is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the harvest. It is also a time to reflect on the Israelites’ journey through the desert and their dependence on God.
Hanukkah Candle Lighting Schedule 2025
Day 1
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Light 1 candle
Day 2
Monday, December 8, 2025
Light 2 candles
Day 3
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Light 3 candles
Day 4
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Light 4 candles
Eat latkes and jelly doughnuts
Play dreidel games
Give gifts to children
Sing Hanukkah songs and light the menorah
Day 5
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Light 5 candles
Day 6
Friday, December 12, 2025
Light 6 candles
Day 7
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Light 7 candles
Day 8
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Light 8 candles
Purim Feasting and Merriment 2025
Purim is a joyous Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them. The holiday is celebrated with feasting, merriment, and the giving of gifts.
Purim Meals
Purim meals are typically festive and include traditional foods such as:
- Hamantaschen: Triangular pastries filled with sweet or savory fillings
- Kreplach: Fried or boiled dumplings filled with meat or vegetables
- Gefilte fish: A traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish made from ground fish
Purim Delicacies
In addition to traditional meals, Purim is also associated with a variety of delicacies, including:
- Purim kugel: A sweet noodle pudding
- Purim strudel: A pastry filled with sweet cheese or fruit
- Purim cookies: A variety of cookies decorated with Purim symbols
Purim Gifts
It is customary to give gifts on Purim, and these gifts often include:
- Money
- Food
- Clothing
Purim Festivities
In addition to feasting and merriment, Purim is also celebrated with a variety of festivities, including:
- Carnival games
- Costume parties
- Live music
Purim 2025 Observance
Purim 2025 will begin on the evening of March 7th and conclude on the evening of March 8th.
| Date | Day |
|---|---|
| March 7th | Fast of Esther |
| March 8th | Purim |
Shavuot Study and Reflection 2025
Counting the Omer
The Omer is a 49-day period of counting that begins on the second night of Passover and ends on the day before Shavuot. Each day, we count the days and weeks that have passed since the Exodus from Egypt. The Omer is a time for reflection and preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot.
The Seven Weeks
The Omer is divided into seven weeks. Each week has a different theme:
| Week | Theme |
|---|---|
| 1 | Chesed (Lovingkindness) |
| 2 | Gevurah (Strength) |
| 3 | Tiferet (Beauty) |
| 4 | Netzach (Victory) |
| 5 | Hod (Splendor) |
| 6 | Yesod (Foundation) |
| 7 | Malkhut (Kingship) |
The 33rd Day: Lag BaOmer
Lag BaOmer is the 33rd day of the Omer. It is a day of celebration and joy. We commemorate the end of a plague that killed 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva. Lag BaOmer is also a day for studying Torah and reflecting on the meaning of Shavuot.
Shavuot Night
The night before Shavuot is called Tikkun Leil Shavuot. We stay up all night studying Torah and praying. This is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for receiving the Torah on Shavuot.
Shavuot Day
Shavuot is a two-day holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. We read the Torah and listen to sermons about the importance of the Torah in our lives. Shavuot is also a time for feasting and celebration.
Tisha B’Av Mourning Practices
Tisha B’Av, known as the “Fast of the Ninth of Av,” is an annual Jewish day of mourning commemorating historical tragedies that occurred on or near the ninth of Av. In 2025, Tisha B’Av will begin on the evening of Tuesday, July 29th, and end on the evening of Wednesday, July 30th.
General Practices
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Fast from food and drink for 25 hours.
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Abstain from bathing, wearing leather, and marital relations.
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Sit on low stools or the floor while studying or attending services.
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Avoid listening to or playing music, singing, or dancing.
Synagogue Observances
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Evening and morning services include special readings and laments.
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The Book of Lamentations (Eicha) is traditionally chanted.
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Prayers focus on themes of mourning, repentance, and redemption.
Number 8
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The number eight holds significance during Tisha B’Av:
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Eighty Events
Traditionally, 80 tragic events are said to have occurred on or near the ninth of Av.
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Eight Expressions of Mourning
There are eight specific actions observed on Tisha B’Av as a symbol of mourning:
| Action |
|---|
| Fasting |
| Wearing no leather shoes |
| Sleeping on the floor |
| Sitting on low stools |
| Abstaining from bathing |
| Refraining from anointing with oil |
| Avoiding marital relations |
| Studying Torah while sitting |
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Eighth Day of the Omer
Tisha B’Av is the culmination of the seven-week “Omer” period, which begins on the second day of Passover. The eighth day of the Omer marks the traditional date of the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
10. Sukkot (Tabernacles)
This seven-day festival commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. It begins on the 15th day of Tishrei and is observed by building and dwelling in temporary shelters, called “sukkahs,” as a reminder of the Israelites’ forty-year sojourn in the desert.
During Sukkot, Jews also perform a special ritual involving four plant species: a palm branch, myrtle branches, willow twigs, and a citron. These plants are bundled together and waved during the prayers, symbolizing the unity of the Jewish people and their connection to the land of Israel.
Sukkot is also a time of joy and celebration, with special prayers, meals, and music. It concludes with Shemini Atzeret (the eighth day of assembly) and Simchat Torah (the rejoicing of the Torah), when the Torah scroll is read from beginning to end in synagogues.
| Date in 2025 | Name |
|---|---|
| September 29 | First Day of Sukkot |
| October 5 | Shemini Atzeret |
| October 6 | Simchat Torah |
Jewish Holidays 2025
The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning that it is based on both the solar year and the lunar cycle. As a result, the dates of Jewish holidays vary from year to year. The following are the dates of Jewish holidays in 2025:
- Rosh Hashanah: September 24-25, 2025
- Yom Kippur: October 3-4, 2025
- Sukkot: October 11-18, 2025
- Shemini Atzeret: October 19, 2025
- Simchat Torah: October 20, 2025
- Hanukkah: December 21-28, 2025
- Purim: March 7-8, 2025
- Passover: April 5-12, 2025
- Shavuot: May 25-26, 2025
People Also Ask About Jewish Holidays 2025
When is Passover 2025?
Passover begins on Wednesday, April 5, 2025, and ends on Thursday, April 12, 2025.
When is Hanukkah 2025?
Hanukkah begins on Wednesday, December 21, 2025, and ends on Thursday, December 28, 2025.
When is Rosh Hashanah 2025?
Rosh Hashanah begins on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, and ends on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
