Festival Dates

Jewish year	5770	5771
Rosh Hashanah (1^st day) 1 Tishri	19 September 2009	9 September 2010	The Jewish New Year and the start of the Ten Days of Repentance. We eat apple dipped in honey, symbolising a 'good and sweet New Year'.
Yom Kippur 10 Tishri	28 September 2009	18 September 2010	Day of Atonement. The most holy and solemn day of the Jewish year. We fast and spend the day in prayer, atoning for our sins and asking forgiveness.
Sukkot (1^st day) 15 Tishri	3 October 2009	23 September 2010	We build 'sukkot', shelters covered in greenery and decorated with fruit, to remember the journey through the desert after the exodus from Egypt.
Simchat Torah 22 Tishri	11 October 2009	30 September 2010	'Rejoicing in the law'. The end of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the start of the new cycle. The scrolls are carried in procession, with dancing and singing.
Channukah (1^st day) 25 Kislev	12 December 2009	2 December 2010	Commemorates the rededication of the Temple at the time of the Maccabee rebellion. Candles are lit each night for the eight days of the festival.
Tu b'Shevat 15 Shevat	30 January 2010	20 January 2011	The 'New Year of the trees'. We plant trees, and eat a variety of fruits, particularly those mentioned in the Bible.
Purim 14 Adar	28 February 2010	20 March 2011	Commemorates the story told in the Book of Esther when Jews were saved from the threat of extermination. A carnival style festival.
Pesach (1^st day) 15 Nisan	30 March 2010	19 April 2011	Commemorates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Family and friends gather for a special meal, the seder, and read the story of Pesach. We eat matzah (unleavened bread).
Yom Hashoah 27 Nisan	11 April 2010		Holocaust Memorial Day. Special service and programmes on previous evening.
Yom Ha'atzmaut 5 Iyar	19 April 2010	9 May 2011	Israel's Independance day. Cultural programme on nearest weekend.
Shavuot 6 Sivan	19 May 2010	8 June 2011	We celebrate Shavuot as the anniversary of the day God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
Tisha b'Av 9 Av	20 July 2010	9 August 2011	Candle lit memorial service on previous evening.