The Jewish year is a beautiful cycle. A rhythm of reflection, gratitude and celebration that keeps us connected to our faith, our people, and our traditions all year long.
While the “big seven” Jewish holidays often take center stage, there’s a rich tapestry of minor holidays that fill the calendar in between. Moments of remembrance, renewal, and joy that remind us there’s always something to celebrate.
From planting trees to honoring heroes, fasting for reflection to dancing with fire, each day adds depth and meaning to the Jewish experience.
Falling in mid-winter, Tu BiShvat marks the “birthday” of the trees. It’s a celebration of renewal and connection to the land of Israel. Traditionally, Jews mark the day by eating fruits from the Seven Species of Israel (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates), planting trees, and appreciating nature.
In modern times, Tu BiShvat has become something of a Jewish Earth Day, reminding us to care for the environment and the world we share.
While most Jews celebrate Purim on the 14th of Adar, those in Jerusalem (and other ancient walled cities) celebrate an additional day on the 15th — a day known as Shushan Purim.
Named after the capital city in the Purim story, it honors the extra day of joy experienced by Jews in Shushan after their victory. The customs mirror Purim’s — feasting, giving gifts, and reading the Megillah — but with an added reminder that Jewish joy often comes in many places and forms.
Between Passover and Shavuot, Jews count forty-nine days known as the Omer — a period of spiritual preparation linking freedom from slavery (Exodus) to the receiving of the Torah at Sinai.
Traditionally a time of semi-mourning, many refrain from haircuts, weddings, and music during this stretch. Each day of counting serves as a personal reflection on growth, patience, and gratitude as we ready ourselves to receive Torah anew.
The 33rd day of the Omer, Lag BaOmer, breaks the somber mood with bonfires, picnics, and joy. It commemorates both the end of a deadly plague among Rabbi Akiva’s students and honors the life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a mystic and scholar.
In Israel, it’s a national celebration. A day of music, dancing, and light that reminds us joy always follows darkness.
Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of Av, is the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It marks the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, as well as other calamities throughout Jewish history. The day is observed with a full fast, the reading of Eicha (Lamentations), and sitting on the floor in mourning. Yet even in its grief, Tisha B’Av carries a seed of hope — tradition teaches that the Messiah will be born on this very day.
Just six days after Tisha B’Av, Tu B’Av flips mourning into joy. Once celebrated as a day of matchmaking in ancient Israel, it’s now often called the “Jewish Valentine’s Day.”
In the time of the Temple, unmarried women would wear white and dance in the vineyards, and men would choose their brides. Today, it’s a celebration of love, unity, and renewal. A reminder that joy and connection are sacred, too.
The Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah marks Leil Selichot. It’s an evening of introspection and prayer that opens the season of repentance.
Communities gather in synagogues for soulful melodies and special supplications known as selichot, asking for forgiveness and strength. It’s a night of spiritual preparation, softening the heart as the High Holidays approach.
Observed right after Rosh Hashanah, this minor fast commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah ben Ahikam, the Jewish governor of Judea after the destruction of the First Temple.
His death marked the final loss of Jewish autonomy in the land of Israel during that era. The fast reminds us of the fragility of peace and the importance of righteous leadership.
Falling in the midst of winter, Asara B’Tevet is a fast day marking the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the event that would eventually lead to the Temple’s destruction.
Many communities also remember this day as one of general mourning for tragedies in Jewish history. It’s a quiet, reflective fast that calls for remembrance and resilience.
Observed on the day before Purim, Taanit Esther recalls the three-day fast that Queen Esther and the Jews undertook before she approached King Ahasuerus to plead for her people.
This fast, shorter and lighter than others, invites reflection on courage, faith, and the power of prayer in times of crisis.
Yom HaShoah honors the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Ceremonies around the world include lighting memorial candles, reciting names of the victims, and observing moments of silence.
In Israel, a siren sounds nationwide, and people stop in their tracks, a stirring reminder of collective memory and the responsibility to never forget.
Held the day before Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel’s Memorial Day honors the soldiers and victims of terror who gave their lives for the State of Israel. Somber ceremonies and the sounding of sirens mark the day. Its proximity to Yom HaAtzmaut symbolizes the deep link between sacrifice and independence — grief and celebration intertwined.
Yom HaAtzmaut is a day of national pride, marking the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. Streets fill with music, dancing, and flag-waving celebrations. Many communities hold festive prayers, barbecues, and concerts. It’s a modern miracle commemorated with both gratitude and joy.
Yom Yerushalayim celebrates the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967. In Israel, it’s marked by parades, singing, and dancing through the streets of the capital. For Jews worldwide, it’s a day to celebrate the spiritual heart of the Jewish people and to give thanks for the enduring connection to our eternal city.
While the minor holidays keep our calendar full, seven major festivals form the foundation of Jewish celebration and identity.
The Jewish year begins with Rosh Hashanah, the “Head of the Year.” It’s a time for reflection, renewal, and prayer for a sweet new year ahead. We hear the sounding of the shofar, eat apples dipped in honey, and gather with family to begin the season of introspection.
Ten days after Rosh Hashanah comes Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year. It’s observed through fasting, prayer, and deep self-reflection, asking for forgiveness from God and from one another. The day closes with Ne’ilah, the final prayer, and a collective sense of renewal.
Sukkot is a harvest festival that commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the desert. Families build sukkot and eat their meals inside them for seven days, waving the lulav and etrog. It’s a joyful, nature-filled reminder of faith and gratitude.
Chanukah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight nights. Families light the menorah, eat foods fried in oil like latkes and sufganiyot, and share in songs and games. It’s a celebration of light, resilience, and faith enduring against all odds.
One of the most joyful Jewish holidays, Purim commemorates the story of Esther and the salvation of the Jewish people in Persia. It’s celebrated with costumes, feasting, giving gifts to friends and the poor, and reading the Megillah. Laughter and joy take center stage — a triumph of courage and community.
Passover marks the Exodus from Egypt, the foundational story of Jewish freedom. Families gather for the seder, retelling the story, eating matzah, and remembering the journey from slavery to freedom. For eight days, homes are cleansed of chametz, and the spirit of liberation fills the air.
Fifty days after Passover, Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It’s traditional to stay up all night studying, read the Book of Ruth, and enjoy dairy foods like cheesecake and blintzes. The day connects learning, faith, and gratitude in one joyful celebration.
Together, the major and minor holidays of the Jewish calendar form a living cycle of joy, remembrance, and renewal. Each day offers its own way to connect through community, prayer, food, or gratitude. Whether it’s the quiet reflection of a fast day or the energy of a festival, Jewish life ensures there’s always something to celebrate.
At Lasko Getaways, we’re proud to honor these traditions. From the grandeur of Passover to the warmth of Shabbat, and every meaningful moment in between. Because Jewish life isn’t just about the big days, it’s about finding celebration all year long.
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