Hebrew Calendar

Hebrew Calendar

Jews took their lunisolar calendar from Babylonians during the time of their captivity by babylons (586—239 B.C.E.). Very similar names of the months spoke to this effect. New month in the ancient Hebrew calendar began with the first Moon appearance in the sky after the New Moon. Special Commission under Jerusalem Sanhedrin was responsible for the Moon observation and declared the beginning of the new month. Statements of two witnesses on the appearance in the sky of the young Moon sickle were necessary for the decision. Thus establishment of the day, from which the month began, depended upon observers and weather. It is worth noting that the insertion of the 13^th month was made not on the basis of calculations, but on the observations and condition of the raping grains. This is one example of the decision, taken by the Sanhedrin President Gamaliel II: "Because pigeons are too small yet and lambs too young... that... we decided it necessary to add to this year 30 more days".

In 70 C.E. Emperor Vespasian destroyed Jerusalem and dispersed Jews. Finding themselves in various countries, they were not able to use their calendar correctly and identically. By 500 C.E. Jewish wise men elaborated new version of the calendar, which has been used till now. In this reformed calendar, beginning of the month as well as necessity of insertion of an additional month and all the rest do not depend any longer on the Moon observers and could be determined by exact calculation.

There are 12 months in the Hebrew calendar, but one more month is added in several years. In the 19 years cycle, which is the basis of the calendar, the insertion of the 13^th month is made into the 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 19 years. It seems that the numbers of years — with additional month or without it — is the only thing, which repeats in a cyclic way in the Hebrew calendar. No other cycle was revealed. Six different variations of the year could be in the calendar. Leap year is called the year with the inserted 13^th month.

Additional month is inserted before month Adar. In this case Adar is called Adar 2, and inserted additional month — Adar 1. Method of the determination of the number of days in a year is rather complicated. Hebrew calendar is closely connected with Judaism, which demands and prohibitions were taken in to account by the calendar creators. For example, from Judaic point of view in order to have correct alteration of Saturdays and Holidays, the New Year may start only on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, Passover has to start only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. All possible combinations of the week days with the beginning of the year (Tishri 1) and the beginning of the Passover holiday (Nisan 15) in different years are given on the following table.

Hebrew calendar is a lunar-solar calendar and its accuracy excels Julian and Gregorian calendars.
Jews used seven days week. The main day for Jews is Saturday (Shabbath), and all other week days by their names underline the special meaning of Saturday: 1^st day towards Saturday, 2^nd day towards Saturday etc.

According to the Jewish wise men new day starts after the moment of Sunset when in the twilight three stars could be seen in the sky. Because it is difficult to calculate this moment of time the Calendar Converter adopts for the beginning of the new day the moment of ending of civil twilight, when the Sun reaches a depression angle of -6�.

Try converting dates using the Calendar Converter.