Jewish 101: Jewish Calendar
What Is the Jewish Calendar?
The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar used throughout the Torah to mark time, seasons, and sacred appointments. Months begin with the sighting of the new moon, and the year is adjusted with leap months to align with the agricultural cycle and the timing of the festivals.
In the Torah, the year begins in the spring, in the month of Aviv, later called Nisan, as stated in Exodus. From this starting point, a rhythm of recurring appointed times, or moadim, unfolds.
The Appointed Times
These include Shabbat, the weekly Sabbath; Rosh Chodesh, the new moon; Pesach, Passover; the counting of the Omer; Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks; Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah; Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement; and Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.
These set times were given not only as markers for worship, remembrance, and community identity, but also to structure the agricultural year, shape the worship in the temple, and frame the entire rhythm of Israel's spiritual life.
Standardization of the Calendar
Over time, with the loss of the temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people, the calendar was standardized. In the fourth century CE, Hillel II introduced a calculated version to ensure consistency across communities.
Today, the Jewish calendar is fixed and follows that structure. Though the Torah counts the new year from Nisan, the Jewish new year is now commonly celebrated on the first of Tishrei, on Rosh Hashanah.
A Framework of Covenant and Memory
This calendar was the daily framework of life for Yeshua and his disciples. They lived by its rhythms, celebrated its feasts, and walked out their life journeys according to the seasons and commands of God.
The Jewish calendar does more than simply keep time. It tells a story of covenant and memory, and it is part of the personal and collective, ongoing relationship between God and his people.
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Daniel Stern
Netivyah Staff
Daniel serves as our Office Manager. Born into the Messianic movement’s founding generation, he served in the Israel Police before studying Political Science and Sociology at Hebrew University. Daniel is the proud father of four children.
Glossary
Covenant (brit, בְּרִית) means a sacred agreement or bond between parties, such as between God and His people.
Nisan (נִיסָן) is the first month of the biblical calendar, the month of Passover and Israel’s redemption from Egypt.
Omer (עֹמֶר) means “sheaf” and refers to the barley offering brought during Passover season, as well as the counting of forty-nine days from the offering of the omer until Shavuot.
Pesach (פֶּסַח) means “Passover” and refers to the biblical festival remembering God’s redemption of Israel from Egypt through signs and wonders. God passed over homes with the blood of the lamb from the death of the firstborn, pointing to the future redemption by the blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of God.
Rosh Chodesh (רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ) means “head of the month” and refers to the beginning of a new Hebrew month, traditionally marked by special prayers, Scripture readings, and thanksgiving to God.
Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה) means “head of the year” and refers to the Jewish New Year, traditionally connected with the biblical Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) and a season of repentance before God.
Shabbat (שַׁבָּת) refers to the seventh day, the Sabbath, set apart by God as a holy day of rest, worship, and delight (see Genesis 2:1-3).
Shavuot (שָׁבוּעוֹת) means “weeks” and often refers to the biblical Feast of Weeks, celebrated fifty days after Passover, when Israel brought firstfruits to God and, in the Brit Chadasha, the Holy Spirit was poured out.
Sukkot (סֻכּוֹת) means “booths” or “tabernacles” and refers to the biblical festival remembering Israel’s wilderness journey and God’s faithful presence and provision.
Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) is the 7th Hebrew month, also known as Ethanim, and contains the fall high holy days: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Tishrei usually falls in September-October
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
Yom Kippur (יוֹם כִּפּוּר) means “Day of Atonement” and refers to the holiest day of the biblical calendar, focused on repentance, cleansing, forgiveness, and reconciliation with God.
Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה) means “Day of Trumpets” and is the biblical name of the festival later known as Rosh Hashanah.
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