Planning & Scheduling Guide for Community Members
Jewish Holiday Calendar
Scheduling around holidays can highlight who is included, valued, or excluded. The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) offers this 5-Year Calendar of Major Jewish Holidays as a tool to support safe, inclusive, and well-planned events in Milwaukee.
Overview
Our shared community is multicultural and diverse. One of the ways we demonstrate respect for each other is by scheduling around holidays to ensure equity, inclusion, and belonging. Please use this calendar when planning meetings, events and academic deadlines.
Explanation of Holidays
* Holy Day; work is traditionally prohibited. Jewish individuals may be absent from work and school.
** Holiday; permissible to work and attend school.
Shabbat*
The Jewish Sabbath is observed every Saturday. It reflects God’s rest on the seventh day andis considered to be a day dedicated to prayer, reflection and rest. Observant Jews are unable to participate in secular events ocurring between sunset on Friday and sunset on Saturday.
Rosh Hashanah*
Marks the beginning of the Jewish year and the period considered to be the High Holy Days.
Yom Kippur*
Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Sukkot*
Eight-day harvest and thanksgiving festival.
Shemini Atzeret*
Eighth and final day of Sukkot.
Simchat Torah*
Celebrates the completion of the yearly cycle of reading the Hebrew Bible (Torah) and the beginning of the next cycle.
Hanukkah**
Eight-day festival of Lights
Purim**
Festive holiday that celebrates the rescue of the Jewish community as recounted in the Book of Esther.
Passover*
Eight-day festival commemorates the exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt. The first two and last two days are observed as holy days.
Shavuot*
Commemorates the receiving of the Torah by the Israelites on Mt. Sinai.