The Jewish Calendar

Unlike the secular calendar, the Jewish Calendar is based on the Moon. But, unlike the Muslim calendar, the Jewish calendar adjusts to fit the solar year. This is why holidays fall on different dates, but generally fall during the same time of year, for instance, Passover is also called Hag Ha'Aviv, the Holiday of Spring.

The Jewish calendar is composed of 12 months. These months (starting, generally around September) are:
1) Tishrei
2) Heshvan
3) Kislev
4) Tevet
5) Shevat
6) Adar

7) Nissan
8) Iyar
9) Sivan
10) Tammuz
11) Av
12) Elul

(You can find out more information about a specific month by clicking on the names of the months that are links)

Nissan, which is the month of spring and the month of Passover, is considered the first month in the Tora (the 5 books of Moses -- the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible) because it is the month that the Children of Israel became a nation.

In order to keep the Jewish calendar from falling behind the solar year, the Jewish calendar provides for 7 leap years (called "Shana M'uberet" or, literally, a pregnant year) every 19 years. The Jewish leap year includes not one leap day (like February 29th on the secular calendar) but an entire leap month. This month is called Adar Sheini or Adar II. Adar II comes after Adar I (making them months 12 and 12a, so to speak).

Because of this 19 year cycle, people who keep track of both secular and religious birthdays often have the dates fall together every 19 years.

On the Jewish calendar, every month has either 29 or 30 days. This is because the cycle of the moon around the earth is 29 1/2 days. In ancient times, witnesses would testify that they saw the new moon and the Jewish court would declare the new month (or Rosh Hodesh -- literally the Head of the Month). But in modern times, the calendar is planned in advance to ensure that certain holidays don't fall on certain days of the week (for example, Yom Kippur cannot fall on Sunday or Friday because observance of the Shabbat, the Sabbath, requires a "25 hour day" and the observance of Yom Kippur also requires a "25 hour day" -- and you can't have two "25 hour days" in a row).

Most months always have either 29 or 30 days every year, but certain months can have either, depending on the year. Kislev, the month during which Hanuka falls, is one such month and, because of this, the date that Hanuka ends is not always the same -- it can end on either the 2nd or 3rd of Tevet.

Check out my other squidoo lenses:
Strong Biblical Women
Strong Biblical Women 2
Why Be Vegetarian
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 1
Vegetarianism: Getting Started 2
Rosh Hashana
Quick Vegan Cooking
Creating new recipes from old
Strong Biblical Women Part 3
Hanuka
Witches and Morality
Presidential Trivia Quiz
Christmas and the Jewish Single
Math Hints 1 -- Adding Fractions

Check out my blogs:

Israel and it's Place in the World
Jewish Singles
Strong Jewish Women

In addition to our Cafe Press and Zazzle sites (see modules above), we also have a store on "Printfection" which includes cutting boards (good wedding or housewarming gifts), mugs and cups, tees, etc.

This water bottle is only one of several Jewish Holiday themed items at our store:

Compugraphd Printfection site

(Click on the picture to go directly to this product's page)

I just discovered Printpop -- check out my entire portfolio or click on the graphic to see just this product (called "Jewish Star Centered"). Check back periodically as new designs are uploaded.

In addition to our Cafe Press and Zazzle sites (see modules above), we also have a store on "Printfection" which includes cutting boards (good wedding or housewarming gifts), mugs and cups, tees, etc.

This cutting board is only one of several Jewish holiday themed items at our store:

Compugraphd Printfection site

(Click on the picture to go directly to this product's page)

In addition to our Cafe Press and Zazzle sites (see modules above), we also have a store on "Printfection" which includes cutting boards (good wedding or housewarming gifts), mugs and cups, tees, etc.

This stein is only one of several Jewish themed items at our store:

Compugraphd Printfection site

(Click on the picture to go directly to this product's page)