Shabbat candle-lighting times

• Friday, 30 July 2010 — Candle lighting: 8:03pm
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• Saturday, 31 July 2010 — Parashat Eikev
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• Saturday, 31 July 2010 — Havdalah (72 min): 9:32pm
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Jewish holiday calendar

All holidays start at sunset the day before the date listed, and also end at sundown.

Looking for holiday events and activities near you? Visit BayArea.PlanitJewish.com, a new Jewish events calendar service brought to you by the Jewish Community Federation.

Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, September 9, 2010 - Friday, September  10, 2010 / 1-2 Tishrei
Festive celebration during which individuals contemplate past, present, and future actions. Traditional foods include round challah and apples with honey, symbolizing wholeness and sweetness for the new year. Commences the Ten Days of Awe, which culminate on Yom Kippur.
more info & links

Yom Kippur

Saturday, September 18, 2010 / 10 Tishrei
One of the holiest days of the Jewish year. Through fasting and prayer, Jews reflect upon their relationships with other people and with God, atoning for wrongdoings and failures to take right action. Ends at sunset with a blast of the shofar (ram's horn).
more info & links

Sukkot

Thursday, September 23, 2010 - Wednesday, September  29, 2010 / 15-21 Tishrei
Seven-day holiday commemorating the fulfillment of God's promise to bring the Israelites to the Promised Land after forty years of wandering. Many people build a sukkah (booth), a temporary structure with a roof made of branches, modeled after the huts constructed in the desert. Also celebrated with the shaking of the lulav (assemblage of palm, willow and myrtle branches) and etrog (a lemon-like fruit).
more info & links

Shemini Atzeret

Thursday, September 30, 2010 / 22 Tishrei
Celebrated the day after Sukkot and thus sometimes considered an extension of that holiday. Marks the first time tefillat geshem (prayer for rain) is recited during services, a practice that continues until Pesach.
more info & links

Simchat Torah

Friday, October 1, 2010 / 23 Tishrei
Celebrates the completion of the annual Torah-reading cycle. After finishing the last sentence of the chapter Devarim (Deuteronomy), the Torah is joyously paraded seven times around the synagogue. The new cycle begins immediately with a reading from Bereshit (Genesis).
more info & links

Chanukah

Thursday, December 2, 2010 - Thursday, December  9, 2010 / 25 Kislev - 2 Tevet
Eight-day holiday commemorating the Jewish victory over the Syrians and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple, when oil meant to last for one day burned for eight. Celebrated by lighting candles in a chanukiah (a nine-branched candelabrum), eating latkes (potato pancakes), playing with dreidels (spinning tops) and giving money or gifts.
more info & links