Calendar of Upcoming Jewish Dates & Holydays
Following is a list of upcoming Jewish festivals and holydays. Those marked with an asterisk are are designated as days of rest from school and work-related activities, according to Jewish law. Please take these dates into account when planning examinations, excursions and other events. Activities such as writing and travelling in motor vehicles are not permitted. Jewish students are exempt from attending school on these days. Please note that holy days and Sabbath observance begin at sunset on the previous evening. Many students will attend synagogue on these days.
| Jewish Year - 5772 | |
| Rosh haShanah* (New Year) | Thursday 29 & Friday 30 September 2011 |
| Tzom (Fast of) Gedaliah | Sunday 2 October 2011 |
| Yom Kippur* (Day of Atonement) | Shabbat 8 October 2011 |
| Sukkot, 1st & 2nd Days* | Thursday 13 & Friday 14 October 2011 |
| Hoshana Rabbah | Wednesday 19 October 2011 |
| Shemini Atzeret* | Thursday 20 October 2011 |
| Simchat Torah* (Rejoicing of the Law) | Friday 21 October 2011 |
| Chanukah, 1st Night | Tuesday 20 December 2011 |
| Chanukah, Final (8th) Night | Tuesday 27 December 2011 |
| Secular Year - 2012 | |
| Asara b'Tevet (Fast of the 10th of Tevet) | Thursday 5 January 2012 |
| Tu biSh'vat ('New Year' for Trees) | Wednesday 8 February 2012 |
| Ta'anit (Fast of) Esther | Wednesday 7 March 2012 |
| Purim | Thursday 8 March 2012 |
| Ta'anit Bechorim (Fast of the First Born) | Friday 6 April 2012 |
| Pesach (Passover)* - 1st Night | Friday 6 April 2012 |
| Pesach (Passover)* - Final Day | Saturday 14 April 2012 |
| Yom haZikaron (Israel's Remembrance Day) | Thursday 26 April 2012 |
| Yom haAtzma'ut (Israel's Independence Day) | Friday 27 April 2012 |
| Lag baOmer | Thursday 10 May 2012 |
| Shavuot* (Festival of Weeks) | Sunday 27 & Monday 28 May 2012 |
| Fast of 17 Tammuz | Sunday 8 July 2012 |
| Tisha b'Av (Fast of the 9th of Av) | Sunday 29 July 2012 |
| Rosh haShanah* (New Year) | Monday 17 & Tuesday 18 September 2012 |
| Tzom (Fast of) Gedaliah | Wednesday 19 September |
| Yom Kippur* (Day of Atonement) | Wednesday 26 September 2012 |
| Sukkot,* 1st & 2nd Days | Monday 1 & Tuesday 2 October 2012 |
| Hoshana Rabbah | Sunday 7 October 2012 |
| Shemini Atzeret* | Monday 8 October 2012 |
| Simchat Torah* | Tuesday 9 October 2012 |
| 1st Night Chanukah | Saturday 8 December 2012 |
| Final Night Chanukah | Saturday 15 December 2012 |
