Calendar of the Months and Chief Jewish Feasts and Fasts in Each Year

The Talmud, by Joseph Barclay, [1878], at sacred-texts.com

p. 364

CALENDAR OF THE MONTHS AND CHIEF JEWISH FEASTS AND FASTS IN EACH YEAR.

I.—Nisan, called in Scripture Abib (part of March and April).

(Beginning of the Sacred or Ecclesiastical Reckoning).

1. New Moon.

14. Passover.

15. First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

16. Waving of the first ripe Omer (wave sheaf), Lev. xxiii. 10-12.

21. Last Day of Unleavened Bread.

II.—Iyar (part of April and May).

1. New Moon.

15. The Second or "little" Passover.

18. Feast of the 33d day after the Omer.

III.—Sivan (part of May and June).

1. New Moon.

6. Feast of Pentecost or Weeks. Seven Weeks or 50 days after the Sheaf offering. The two loaves of fine flour, called first-fruits, were waved before the Lord. This Feast commemorates also the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.

27. Fast for the burning of Rabbi Chanina, by the Greeks.

IV.—Thamuz (part of June and July).

1. New Moon.

17. Fast for the taking of Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar, on the 9th, and by Titus, on the 17th. If this day fall on a Sabbath, the Fast is kept on the following day.

V.—Ab (part of July and August).

1. New Moon.

9. Fast for the threefold destruction of the Temple.

15. Feast for the readmission of the Tribe of Benjamin (Judges xxi. 15). It is also called the Day of the Wood Offering.

VI.—Elul (part of August and September).

1. New Moon.

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VII.—Tishri (part of September and October).

(Beginning of the Civil Reckoning).

1 and 2. Feast of the Civil New Year, and of Trumpets.

3. Fast for the Murder of Gedaliah.

4-9. Days of Penitence.

10. Fast on the Great Day of Atonement.

15-21. Feast of Tabernacles. The last day is called "Hosanna Rabba" (i.e. save with a great salvation).

22. Feast on the completion of the Yearly Reading of the Law. It is called "Rejoicings of the Law."

VIII.—Marchesvan (part of October and November).

1. New Moon.

IX.—Kislev (part of November and December).

1. New Moon.

25. Feast of Dedication or Lighted Lamps to commemorate the cleansing and dedication of the Temple after the victory of Judas Maccabæus over the Syrians, B.C. 148. This feast lasts eight days.

X.—Tebeth (part of December and January).

1. New Moon.

10. Fast for the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

XI.—Shebat (part of January and February).

1. New Moon.

The last Sabbath in this month is called the "Portion of Shekels." Such Portions of the Law, as Exodus xxx. 15, etc., are read, and collections of money are made for the poor Jews in Jerusalem.

XII.—Adar (part of February and March).

1. New Moon.

13. Fast of Esther (Esther iv. 16). If it fall on a Sabbath its observance takes place two days before.

14 and 15. Feast of Purim for the destruction of Haman.

(       ) Veaddar or the additional Adar—the month intercalated to make the lunar and solar years correspond. (See note [1], page 176). In the present year, A.D. 1877, according to Jewish Chronology, the year A.M. 5638 began on the first day of Tishri.