The Hebrew calendar is a lunisolar calendar used for Jewish religious observances. It has 12 months in a regular year and 13 months in a leap year. The current Hebrew year is 5785 (2024-2025 CE).
The 12 Hebrew Months
Tishrei
Sep-Oct
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot
Cheshvan
Oct-Nov
No major holidays
Kislev
Nov-Dec
Chanukah begins
Tevet
Dec-Jan
Chanukah ends, Fast of Tevet
Shevat
Jan-Feb
Tu B'Shevat
Adar
Feb-Mar
Purim
Nisan
Mar-Apr
Passover
Iyar
Apr-May
Lag B'Omer, Yom Ha'atzmaut
Sivan
May-Jun
Shavuot
Tammuz
Jun-Jul
Fast of Tammuz
Av
Jul-Aug
Tisha B'Av, Tu B'Av
Elul
Aug-Sep
Month of repentance
How the Hebrew Calendar Works
Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is purely solar (365 days), the Hebrew calendar follows the moon for months but adjusts for the sun through leap years. This ensures that holidays always fall in their proper seasons.
Leap Years in the Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar adds an extra month (Adar II) seven times in every 19-year cycle (years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19). This keeps Passover in the spring and other holidays in their correct seasons.
Why the Hebrew Date Matters
- Yahrzeits: Jewish memorial anniversaries are observed on the Hebrew date
- Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Celebrated on the Hebrew birthday
- Holidays: All Jewish holidays are set by the Hebrew calendar
- Torah Readings: Weekly portions follow the Hebrew calendar
Frequently Asked Questions
The Hebrew day begins at sunset, not midnight. So if today is December 15th and the sun sets at 5:00 PM, the Hebrew date changes to the next day at that moment.
The Hebrew year 5785 began at Rosh Hashanah in September 2024 and continues until Rosh Hashanah 2025. The count represents years since Creation according to Jewish tradition.
Use our Hebrew Birthday Calculator to convert your English birth date to the Hebrew calendar. You'll get your Hebrew birthday and see when it falls each year.
Calculate Hebrew Birthday