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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. 

Jewish Year 5784

Jewish Holidays 5784Dates in 2023-2024
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 22-30, 2024
Monday Night – Next Tuesday
3 meals a day of Kosher for Passover food available at various campus locations + the Freeman Center
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Evening of May 5-6, 2024
Sunday Night – Monday
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day
Evening of May 12-13, 2024
Sunday Night – Monday
Yom HaAtzmaut
Israel's Independence Day
Evening of May 13-14, 2024
Monday Night – Tuesday
Lag B'Omer
33rd day of the Omer
Archery, Bonfires and Barbecues
Evening of May 25-26, 2024
Saturday Night – Sunday
Shavuot**
Giving of the Torah/PentecostFestival of First Fruits/Weeks
Evening of June 11-13, 2024
Tuesday Night – Thursday
Tisha B'Av
Ninth of Av - Fast of the Destruction
Major Fast Day – full 25 hour fast
Evening of August 12-13, 2024
Monday Night – Tuesday

Jewish Year 5785

Jewish Holidays 5785Dates 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 24 - 25, 2024
Thursday Night – Friday
Simchat Torah**
Festival of Rejoicing with the Torah
Evening of October 25 -26, 2024
Friday Night – Saturday
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 13 - 14, 2025
Thursday Night – Friday
Purim
Festival of Lots (the story of Esther)

A very joyous holiday
Evening of March 16, 2025
Sunday Night – Monday
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 - 19, 2025
Saturday Night – Next Saturday
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 24 - 25, 2025
Thursday Night – Friday
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day
Evening of April 30 - May 1, 2025
Wednesday Night – Thursday
Yom HaAtzmaut
Israel's Independence Day
Evening of May 1 - 2, 2025
Thursday Night – Friday
Lag B'Omer
33rd day of the Omer
Archery, Bonfires and Barbecues
Evening of May 16 - 17, 2025
Friday Night – Saturday
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.

Student blowing a shofar