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Everything You Need to Know About the Jewish Calendar
The Jewish calendar, also known as the Hebrew calendar, is based on lunar months - the time it takes for the moon to circle the earth.
Since the exact duration of one revolution is a little over 29.5 days, the length of the Hebrew months normally alternates between 29 and 30 days. A Jewish day starts at sundown and ends at sundown.
In Hebrew we call the first day of each month “Rosh Chodesh,” which literally means head of the month.
Leap years
An ordinary Hebrew year consists of 12 months containing 29-30 days, yielding a year ranging from 353 to 355 days. This means that the Jewish year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. Since the holidays are tied to specific times of year, such as Passover in the spring, the Jewish year must be adjusted to the solar year. This is achieved by adding an extra month seven times in a nineteen year cycle.
The extra month, called Adar I, is added after the Hebrew month of Shevat and the original Adar becomes Adar II. Purim, which is on 14 of the Hebrew month of Adar, is celebrated in Adar II in a leap year.
Special Jewish calendar features
Jewish calendars, like secular calendars, include relevant holidays such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shavuot, and others. In addition, most traditional Jewish calendars offer a list of candle-lighting times in key cities, such as in New York or Jerusalem. It is important to check that you are looking at the correct candle-lighting time for your area.
Most Jewish calendars also list the Torah portion, and sometimes the corresponding Haftorah portion, that will be read in synagogue each week.
Different Types of Jewish Calendars
Judaica.com carries a creative selection of Jewish calendars. Purchasing a Jewish calendar can be confusing. Make sure that you are getting the correct calendar for the Jewish and secular years. For example, the Jewish year 5780 corresponds to the secular year 2020, but it begins in the fall of 2019 with Rosh Hashanah. Judaica.com’s calendars are almost all 16-month calendars that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in September and continue through December of the following year.
The Jumbo Jewish Calendar:
This 13-month calendar is just huge! It can serve as a desk pad or a calendar to hang on the wall, and has enough space to write all your own personal celebrations and appointments. The calendar includes Jewish holidays and Shabbat candle-lighting times for the United States and Canada. This calendar runs from September 2019 to September 2020.
Executive Jewish Calendar:
This is an extensive executive calendar, a 17-month single-color, notebook-style calendar that fits easily in your desk or briefcase. The month-at-a-glance view is perfect for busy people who want to plan. This calendar is a great way to keep track of celebrations and appointments. Like most Judaica.com's Jewish calendars, this one includes Jewish holidays, Torah portions, and Shabbat candle-lighting times. This calendar runs from August 2019 to December 2020.
The Mini Jewish Calendar:
Want a Jewish calendar small enough to throw in your purse or car console? The Mini Jewish Calendar is a checkbook-sized 13-month Jewish calendar, but it still includes a candle-lighting chart and Jewish holidays. It also has a full-color cover with whimsical artwork. This calendar runs from September 2019 to September 2020.
The Jewish Engagement Calendar:
This is a masterpiece of a calendar, with 53 full-color Judaic ceremonial masterpieces from the internationally renowned collection of The Jewish Museum in New York. This calendar features one week on each page, with plenty of room to jot down personal celebrations and appointments. It contains all the features of a traditional Jewish calendar, with a bonus list of Jewish holidays through the year 2030. This calendar runs from September 2019 through December 2020.
Artistic Wall Calendars:
Bring some joy and Judaism into your daily life with an artistic wall calendar. These calendars are uniquely designed to add color, creativity, and connection to any wall.
Here are a few examples:
- Jewish Art Calendar: Artist Mickie Caspi has created 14 lovely illuminations to fill this calendar. With large boxes for busy families. This calendar runs from September 2019 through December 2020.
- Hebrew Illuminations Calendar: This is truly a work of art. Stunning. Colorful. Bright. This calendar features images by Jewish artist Adam Rhine, whose stunning Judaic paintings combine modern aesthetics with the influence of medieval illuminated manuscripts and lettering. This calendar runs from September 2019 through December 2020.
- My Very Own Jewish Calendar: Family-friendly and fun, this 16-month, full-color wall calendar is perfect for children, offering ample space for daily reminders. It features fun facts, photographs, recipes and trivia for the Jewish year. This calendar runs from September 2019 to December 2020.