Israel Public Holidays

Israel Public Holidays

Searching for the national holidays in Israel? All public holidays in Israel are treated like Sundays. This means that most of the Israel employees have a day off and all schools are closed on these office holidays. If you are planning a trip to Israel and want to know what the national and regional holidays are, check the details in the tables below.

Israel’s public holidays are a reflection of its rich cultural heritage, religious significance, and modern history. The country’s calendar is deeply influenced by Jewish traditions, with many of the holidays rooted in the Hebrew calendar, which is lunar-based. These holidays often combine religious observances, historical commemorations, and family gatherings. While some holidays are unique to Israel, others are internationally recognized Jewish festivals. In addition, Israel also observes national holidays that commemorate key moments in the country’s modern history.

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Religious Holidays

According to fashionissupreme.com, most of Israel’s public holidays are rooted in Judaism and reflect significant moments in Jewish religious history. These holidays are marked by various customs and religious rituals, which often include attending synagogue services, festive meals, and the observance of biblical commandments.

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

• Date: Varies (September or October, based on the Hebrew calendar)
• Significance: Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days. It is a time for reflection, prayer, and repentance.
• Traditions:
  • The holiday is observed with special synagogue services, where the shofar (a ram’s horn) is blown to symbolize a call for repentance.
  • Families gather for festive meals, often featuring symbolic foods like apples dipped in honey to wish for a sweet new year, and round challah bread to symbolize the cycle of the year.
  • It is customary to greet each other with “Shanah Tovah,” meaning “Good Year.”

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

• Date: 10 days after Rosh Hashanah (September or October)
• Significance: Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, dedicated to fasting, prayer, and repentance.
• Traditions:
  • Observant Jews fast for 25 hours, refraining from eating or drinking, and spend much of the day in synagogue praying for forgiveness and reflecting on their actions over the past year.
  • The day concludes with the Neilah prayer and the final blowing of the shofar, signaling the end of the fast.
  • In Israel, the streets are unusually quiet on Yom Kippur, as most businesses, transportation, and entertainment venues close, and many people refrain from driving.

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

• Date: 5 days after Yom Kippur (September or October)
• Significance: Sukkot commemorates the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt.
• Traditions:
  • Families build temporary shelters called sukkot, where they eat meals and, in some cases, sleep for the seven days of the holiday. These shelters symbolize the fragile dwellings used by the Israelites in the desert.
  • The holiday also includes the shaking of the lulav (a bundle of palm, myrtle, and willow branches) and the etrog (a citron fruit), which represent different aspects of nature and human character.
  • The final day of Sukkot is called Hoshana Rabbah, and it is followed by Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, which mark the end of the annual cycle of Torah readings.

Passover (Pesach)

• Date: Varies (March or April, based on the Hebrew calendar)
• Significance: Passover commemorates the Exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
• Traditions:
  • The most significant ritual of Passover is the Seder meal, held on the first two nights (or just the first night in some traditions). The Seder involves the reading of the Haggadah, which recounts the story of the Exodus, and the eating of symbolic foods such as matzah (unleavened bread) and maror (bitter herbs).
  • For the duration of the holiday, Jews avoid eating chametz (leavened bread) to commemorate the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, which did not allow their bread to rise.
  • Passover is a family-oriented holiday, with many people traveling to be with relatives and holding large communal Seders.

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

• Date: 50 days after Passover (May or June)
• Significance: Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
• Traditions:
  • It is traditional to study Torah throughout the night of Shavuot in a practice known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot.
  • Dairy foods, such as cheesecakes, blintzes, and other milk-based dishes, are commonly eaten during Shavuot. This tradition is linked to the idea that the Torah is like “milk and honey” nourishing the soul.
  • Synagogues are often decorated with flowers and greenery to celebrate the holiday’s agricultural origins as a harvest festival.

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

• Date: Varies (November or December, based on the Hebrew calendar)
• Significance: Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Seleucid Empire and celebrates the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days.
• Traditions:
  • Families light the hanukkiah (a nine-branched menorah) for eight nights, adding one candle each night to symbolize the miracle of the oil.
  • Traditional foods, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts), are fried in oil to commemorate the oil miracle.
  • Children often play the dreidel game, and gifts are exchanged, particularly among children.

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National Holidays

In addition to religious observances, Israel has several national holidays that commemorate key historical events, including the country’s establishment, its defense, and its achievements.

Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzmaut)

• Date: Varies (April or May, based on the Hebrew calendar)
• Significance: Celebrates the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
• Traditions:
  • Independence Day is marked with national ceremonies, including a torch-lighting ceremony at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem and an air show by the Israeli Air Force.
  • Families celebrate with barbecues and outdoor picnics, and many Israelis attend public events such as concerts and fireworks displays.
  • The holiday is preceded by Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers), a solemn day to honor those who lost their lives defending Israel. The transition from Memorial Day to Independence Day is symbolic of the country’s resilience.

Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day)

• Date: The day before Yom Ha’atzmaut (April or May)
• Significance: Commemorates Israeli soldiers and civilians who have died in wars or terrorist attacks.
• Traditions:
  • A two-minute siren is sounded across the country, during which the entire nation pauses to remember the fallen.
  • Memorial services are held at cemeteries, and official ceremonies take place at the Western Wall and military cemeteries.
  • The day is marked by a deep sense of mourning and reflection, with many attending commemorations or watching televised memorial programs.

Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah)

• Date: Varies (April or May, based on the Hebrew calendar)
• Significance: Honors the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust during World War II.
• Traditions:
  • A two-minute siren is sounded throughout Israel, during which people stop whatever they are doing to stand in silent remembrance.
  • Holocaust survivors share their stories in schools, communities, and through televised interviews.
  • Public ceremonies are held, particularly at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, and at memorials across the country.

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Secular and International Holidays

Israel also observes several secular holidays and international observances, many of which are marked by festive activities, public events, and time spent with family.

New Year’s Eve (Sylvester)

• Date: December 31
• Significance: While not a religious holiday, New Year’s Eve is celebrated by many Israelis, particularly in the secular and international communities.
• Traditions:
  • Parties and celebrations are held in major cities like Tel Aviv, with restaurants, clubs, and bars hosting special events.
  • Many Israelis also celebrate at home with family and friends, marking the transition to the Gregorian New Year.

Labor Day (International Workers’ Day)

• Date: May 1
• Significance: Celebrated internationally, Labor Day in Israel is a day to recognize the contributions of workers and labor movements.
• Traditions:
  • Labor Day is not a major holiday in Israel, but some unions and labor organizations may hold demonstrations or public events to promote workers’ rights and social justice.