Jewish calendar

[ joo-ish kal-uhn-der ]

noun

1. a lunisolar calendar used by Jews, as for determining religious holidays, that is reckoned from 3761 b.c. and was established by Hillel II in the 4th century a.d., with the calendar year consisting of 353 days defective year, 354 days regular year, or 355 days perfect year or abundant year and containing 12 months: Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, Adar, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, and Elul, with the 29-day intercalary month of Adar I added before Adar seven times in every 19-year cycle in order to adjust the calendar to the solar cycle. The Jewish religious year begins with Nisan and the civil year with Tishri.

Jewish calendar

noun

1. the lunisolar calendar used by the Jews, in which time is reckoned from 3761 bc : regarded as the year of the Creation. The months, Nisan, Iyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishri, Cheshvan, Kislev, Tevet, Shevat, and Adar, have either 29 or 30 days. Originally a new month was declared when the new moon was sighted in Jerusalem, but when this became impossible, a complex formula was devised to keep Rosh Chodesh near to the new moon. In addition, to keep the harvest festivals in the right seasons, there is a Metonic cycle of 14 years, in five of which an additional month is added after Shevat. The year according to biblical reckoning begins with Nisan, and the civil year begins with Tishri; the years are numbered from Tishri Also calledHebrew calendar See also Adar

Word History and Origins

Origin of Jewish calendar¹

First recorded in 1790–95

Example Sentences

It’s also Rosh Hashana, one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish calendar.

From Los Angeles Times

The shock that Israelis felt on Saturday morning — on Simchat Torah, one of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar — recalled the surprise of the the 1973 Mideast war.

From Seattle Times

The shock that Israelis felt on Saturday morning - on Simchat Torah, one of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar - recalled the surprise of the the 1973 Mideast war.

From Washington Times

Yom Kippur, the most solemn and sacred date on the Jewish calendar, is usually a day of unity for Jewish Israelis.

From New York Times

Rosh Hashana marks the start of a crush of upcoming holy days, including Yom Kippur, the Jewish calendar’s most important occasion.

From Los Angeles Times