Rosh ha Shannah (rosh = head, shannah = year) will soon be here and because
the Hebrew calendar has a different cyclical pattern than does the
Christian-based secular calendar, there arises much confusion as to when Rosh
ha Shannah and other Jewish Holy Days & Festival Days may occur.  Hence, this
eMail.

All Jewish Holy Days and Festival Days begin at sundown on the evening before
the civil calendar date listed:

Hebrew Year                                          Civil Year
.     5761        Holy Day or Festival          2000 - 2001


. 1 Tishrei        Rosh Ha Shanah            Sep 30 - Oct 1 (Sat - Sun)

10 Tishrei        Yom Kippur                    Oct 9 (Mon)

15 Tishrei        Sukkot                           Oct 14 (Sat)

22 Tishrei        Shemini Atzeret              Oct 21 (Sat)

23 Tishrei        Simchat Torah                Oct 22 (Sun)

25 Kislev         Chanukah                       Dec 22-29 (Fri-Fri)

15 Shvat          Tu B'Shvat                      Feb  8 (Thu)

14 Adar I*        Purim                             Mar  9 (Fri)

15 Nissan       Passover                        Apr   8 - 15 (Sun - Sun)

27 Nissan       Yom Ha Shoah               Apr 20 (Fri)

18 Iyar            Lag B'Omer                    May 11 (Fri)

  --                  Shavuot                         May 28 -29  (Mon - Tue)

. 9 Av             Tisha B'Av                      Jul 29 (Sun)

* In certain years, Purim occurs on the 14 day of Adar II.


Rosh ha Shannah (head of the year) falls on the first day of the 7th month
(Tishrei) and that would take more than an eMail to explain.  Passover occurs
on the 15th day of the first month (Nissan).


The 12 (and sometimes 13) months are:

Nissan
Iyar
Sivan
Tamuz
Av
Elul
Tishrei
Chevan
Kislev
Teves
Shvat
Adar
(Adar II in certain years)


L'Shannah Tova
& Happy 5761,

Walter Greenspan