Hebrew Calendar

calendar · Jewish culture · moon cycles

Follows the moon. The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar, which means it uses both the moon and the sun to track time. Each month starts when a new moon appears in the sky.

Determines holidays. This calendar tells Jewish people exactly when to celebrate holidays like Passover and Hanukkah every year. It makes sure all Jewish communities around the world celebrate on the same dates.

Israel's official calendar. The Hebrew calendar is one of Israel's official calendars used for civil holidays and events, working alongside the Gregorian calendar that most countries use.

Helps with farming. Farmers in Israel use the Hebrew calendar to know when to plant crops and harvest them because it connects the seasons to religious observances.

Plans Torah readings. Jewish communities use this calendar to figure out which parts of the Torah to read each week in synagogue, so everyone studies the same passages together.