Appendix

Biblical Feasts

The year has seven major feasts. Below is a brief prayer guide for each of them. Detailed accounts for celebrating them are available in print and online on this website. The religious year begins around March/April in the month of Nisan with Passover. The civil year begins around September/October in the month of Tishri with Trumpets.

Passover Pesach 14th Nisan (Easter)	Exodus 12.1 – 15.21 The account of the Passover: selection of the lamb, killing of the land, sprinkling of the blood. Matthew 26.17 – 30 Jesus celebrates the Passover. 1 Corinthians 11.23 – 34 Paul recalls that Jesus established the Lord’s Supper at the Passover celebration. Isaiah 53
Unleavened Bread Matsot 15th –21st Nisan (Easter)	Exodus 13.3 – 10 The Feast of Unleavened Bread instituted. Luke 2.41 – 52 Jesus in Jerusalem for Passover and for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 1 Corinthians 5.6 – 8 How we are to be the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Isaiah 55.10 – 11
Firstfruits Bikurim The Barley Harvest 16th Nisan (Easter)	Leviticus 23.9 – 14 Firstfruits instituted. Deuteronomy 26.1 – 11 The ritual for Firstfruits. Matthew 28.1 – 10 Jesus has risen from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15.20 – 28 Christ has become the firstfruits of those who have died. In Christ all will be made alive Jeremiah 2.2 -3
Weeks Shavuot (Pentecost) 50 days after Firstfruits	Leviticus 23.15 – 21 Count fifty days from Firstfruits to Shavuot. Numbers 28.26 – 31 Offerings. Deuteronomy 16.9 – 12 Rejoice John 7.37 – 39; 14.25 – 26 Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit. Acts 2.1 – 4 The disciples receive the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after Firstfruits. Joel 2.28 - 32
Trumpets Yom Teruah New Year Rosh HaShanah 1st Tishri	Leviticus 23.23 –25 The feast established. Numbers 29.1 – 6 Sacrifices for the feast. Matthew 24.29 – 31 The sound of the trumpet when the Messiah returns. 1 Corinthians 15.51 – 52 The last trumpet when the dead will be raised. Isaiah 27.2 - 13
Day of Atonement Yom Kippur 10th Tishri	Days of Awe from Trumpets to Yom Kippur. Leviticus 23.26 – 32 The feast mandated. Leviticus 16 Priest’s role. Numbers 29.7 – 11 Sacrifices for Yom Kippur. John 1.29 The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Hebrews 9.11 – 10.22 Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Zechariah 12.10 -14
Tabernacles Sukkot 15th Tishri: for seven days	Leviticus 23.33 – 43 Live in booths and rejoice. Numbers 29.12 – 39 Offerings for the feast. John 7.1 – 31 Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles. John 14.1 – 4 Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for us. Revelation 21.3 The tabernacle of God is with men. Zechariah 14.1 -21

Schedule of Feasts

This table gives the dates of the major feasts as well as the day the Parashah readings start over again from Genesis 1 with Bereshit. This starting date is the first Saturday after Simchat Torah (Rejoicing the Torah) which is the eighth day after Tabernacles.

Year	Passover	Shavuot	New Year	Yom Kippur	Tabernacles	Parashah Bereshit
2008	April 20	June 9	Sept 30	Oct 9	Oct 14	Oct 25
2009	April 9	May 29	Sept 19	Sept 28	Oct 3	Oct 17
2010	Mar 30	May 19	Sept 9	Sept 18	Sept 23	Oct 2
2011	April 19	June 8	Sept 29	Oct 8	Oct 13	Oct 22
2012	April 7	May 27	Sept 17	Sept 26	Oct 1	Oct 23
2013	Mar 24	May 15	Sept 5	Sept 14	Sept 19	Sept 28
2014	April 15	June 4	Sept 25	Oct 4	Oct 9	Oct 18
2015	April 4	May 24	Sept 14	Sept 23	Sept 28	Oct 10

Converting Western Years (Gregorian Calendar) to a Jewish year:

Remember that the Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShanah) begins in September.
Before Rosh HaShanah add 3760 to the Western year: 2008 +3760 = 5768
After Rosh HaShanah add 3761 to the Western year: 2008 +3761 = 5769

Identifying leap years

In the 19 year cycle of readings leap years occur in years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, 19. To determine if a Jewish year is a leap year or not divide the year by 19. If the remainder is 0,3,6,8,11,14,17 then the year is a leap year and each of the 54 parashot has its own week. In regular years there are some weeks that two are read together. These are so indicated when they occur. The table below shows the leap years coming up.

Jewish Year	Begins	Type of Year
5768	September 13, 2007	Leap Year
5769	September 30, 2008	Regular Year
5770	September 19, 2009	Regular Year
5771	September 9, 2010	Leap Year
5772	September 29, 2011	Regular Year
5773	September 17, 2012	Regular Year
5774	September 13, 2013	Leap Year
5775	September 25, 2014	Regular Year
5776	September 14, 2015	Leap Year

The Jewish Calendar Months

Jewish Month	Corresponding Months 2008	Corresponding Months 2008	Feasts
1. Nisan 30 days 1st month Ex.12.2		April 6 –May 5	14 Passover 15 –21 Unleavened Bread 16 Firstfruits
2. Iyar 29 days		May 6 – June 3
3. Sivan 30 days		June 4 – July 3	6 Weeks (Pentecost)
4. Tammuz 29 days		July 4 – Aug 1
5. Av 30 days		August 2 - 31
6. Elul 29 days		September 1 –29
7. Tishri 30 days		Sept 30 – Oct 29	1 NewYear 10 Yom Kippur 15-21 Tabernacles
8. Heshvan 29 or 30		Oct 30 – Nov 27
9. Kislev 29 or 30		Nov 28 – Dec 27	Hannukah:Kislev 25 to
10. Tevet 29 days	Dec 10.07 –Jan 7.08	Dec 28 – Jan 2009	2/3 Tevet
11. Shevat 30 days	Jan 8 – Feb 6, 2008
12. Adar I 29 or 30	Feb 7 – March 7		14 Purim
Adar II 29	March 8 – April 5