Jewish Holidays 2024 - 2025
We encourage our Duke colleagues and student groups of all identities and faith traditions to reference this resource when scheduling programs and events in order to avoid planning events on major Jewish holidays. Taking into account these dates helps create an inclusive climate for the Duke Jewish community. Questions? Contact us at jewishlife@duke.edu.
Holidays marked with ** (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret, Pesach and Shavuot) are days when traditionally work is forbidden and some students may not travel or write.
Duke Colleagues: We ask that there be no university wide programming on the 1st night/day of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the 1st night/day of Passover, as those are days observed by the vast majority of American Jews.
Looking for holiday services and observances?
Click here to view an overview of how Jewish Life at Duke observes holidays with services and meals, including a schedule and information of High Holiday (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) services.
| Jewish Holidays 5785 | Dates in 2024-2025 |
|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah** New Year No university wide programming on the 1st night/day | Evening of October 2 - 4, 2024 Wednesday Night – Friday |
| Yom Kippur** Day of Atonement Major Fast Day – full 25 hour fast No university wide programming on the night/day | Evening of October 11 - 12, 2024 Friday Night – Saturday |
| Sukkot** Festival of Tabernacles (Booths) All meals are eaten in the Sukkah | Evening of October 16 - 23, 2024 Wednesday Night – Next Wednesday |
| Shemini Atzeret** 8th Day Feast of Assembly (end of Sukkot) | Evening of October 23 - 24, 2024 Wednesday Night – Thursday |
| Simchat Torah** Festival of Rejoicing with the Torah | Evening of October 24 -25, 2024 Thursday Night – Friday |
| Hanukkah Festival of Lights (Rededication of the Temple) | Evening of December 25, 2024 - January 2, 2025 Wednesday Night – Next Thursday (8 nights) |
| Tu BiShvat New Year for the Trees | Evening of February 12 - 13, 2025 Wednesday Night – Thursday |
| Purim Festival of Lots (the story of Esther) A very joyous holiday | Evening of March 13 - 14, 2025 Thursday Night – Friday |
| Pesach** Passover, Feast of Freedom and Unleavened Bread Significant food restrictions, no leavened products, seder meal on first night (and second for some) No university wide programming on the 1st night/day | Evening of April 12 - 20, 2025 Saturday Night – Next Sunday 3 meals a day of Kosher for Passover food available at various campus locations + the Freeman Center |
| Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day | Evening of April 23 - 24, 2025 Wednesday Night – Thursday |
| Yom HaZikaron Israel's Memorial Day | Evening of April 29 - 30, 2025 Tuesday Night – Wednesday |
| Yom HaAtzmaut Israel's Independence Day | Evening of April 30 - May 1, 2025 Wednesday Night – Thursday |
| Lag B'Omer 33rd day of the Omer Archery, Bonfires and Barbecues | Evening of May 15 - 16, 2025 Thursday Night – Friday |
| Shavuot** Giving of the Torah/PentecostFestival of First Fruits/Weeks | Evening of June 1 - 3, 2025 Sunday Night – Tuesday |
| Tisha B'Av Ninth of Av - Fast of the Destruction Major Fast Day – full 25 hour fast | Evening of August 2 - 3, 2025 Saturday Night – Sunday |
Please Note: All Jewish holidays/observances begin in the evening at sundown and terminate an hour after sundown on their final day.
Feel free to reach out to Rabbi Elana Friedman (elana.friedman@duke.edu) with any questions.
Looking for holiday dates farther out in the future?
Check out HebCal ("Hebrew Calendar") at https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/ to view a list of holiday dates years into the future.
