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Hebrew Jewish Calendar

The Hebrew calendar — year 5786–5787.

The Hebrew calendar (also called the Jewish calendar) is a lunisolar calendar with 12 or 13 months and a 19-year leap cycle. It dates from a calculated creation of the world in 3761 BCE. The current year is 5786, which started at sundown on 22 September 2025.

At a glance

Key facts about hebrew calendar

Year
5786
A.M. (Anno Mundi)
Type
Lunisolar
Like Chinese
Months
12 or 13
Adar II in leap years
Days/month
29 or 30
Lunar
New Year 5787
12 Sep 2026
Rosh Hashanah
Year length
353-385
Days, varies
Leap cycle
19 years
Metonic cycle
Sabbath
Saturday
Shabbat: Fri sunset - Sat sunset
The 12 (or 13) months

Names of Hebrew calendar months

The 12 months are: Tishrei, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar (Adar I + Adar II in leap years), Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, and Elul.

The religious year begins with Nisan (March-April) — the month of the Exodus from Egypt. The civil year begins with Tishrei (September-October) — Rosh Hashanah.

A 13th month, Adar I, is added 7 times in every 19-year cycle to keep Passover aligned with spring.

Major holidays 2026

Jewish holidays in 2026

Tu BiShvat (New Year of trees) — 3 February 2026.

Purim (Festival of Lots) — 3 March 2026.

Passover (Pesach) begins — 1 April 2026 (evening).

Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance) — 14 April 2026.

Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) — 22 April 2026.

Lag BaOmer — 5 May 2026.

Shavuot — 21 May 2026.

Tisha B'Av — 23 July 2026.

Rosh Hashanah (New Year 5787) — 12 September 2026 (evening).

Yom Kippur — 21 September 2026.

Sukkot begins — 26 September 2026.

Hanukkah begins — 5 December 2026 (evening).

Frequently asked questions

What year is it in the Hebrew calendar?
It is currently year 5786 A.M. (Anno Mundi). 5787 begins on the evening of 12 September 2026.
Why does the Jewish day start at sunset?
From Genesis 1:5 — "And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day." Each Jewish day runs from sunset to the next sunset.
How is the Hebrew calendar calculated?
It uses a 19-year Metonic cycle with 12 ordinary years (12 months) and 7 leap years (13 months). The exact length of each month and the placement of leap years are governed by ancient calculation rules attributed to Hillel II (4th century CE).
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on 5 December and runs through 13 December — 8 nights of candles.
What's the difference between civil year and religious year?
The civil year (Rosh Hashanah) starts in Tishrei (Sep-Oct). The religious year (Aviv/spring) starts in Nisan (Mar-Apr). Both are still in use.

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Hebrew calendar
Rosh Hashanah · 12 Sep 2026