The Hebrew/Gregorian Calendar
"The Israeli daily rhythm marches to the beat of two calendars, and then some.
There is the standard Gregorian calendar, commonly called the 'Civil' calendar, and then there is the Hebrew calendar. Alongside these, the Muslim calendar also manages to weave in several dates that are essential to remember.
On the surface, it might seem that the global Gregorian calendar is the dominant one, driving our daily agenda: it sets meeting times, daily events, and all long-term plans—from January to December.
Well… not quite.
The printed calendar found in every Israeli home—hanging on the fridge or tucked into a bag as a pocket planner—is published at the beginning of the Hebrew year. It incorporates the Gregorian dates as well, but it starts in Tishrei and ends in Elul. It features one full Hebrew year, covering parts of two consecutive Gregorian years that begin in September and end in August of the following year
This has been the way for over 100 years:
the Jewish residents of the country plan according to the Civil calendar, yet constantly peek at the Hebrew calendar to see "when the holiday falls," just to make sure everything runs according to plan, including holidays and vacations tied to the seasons.
The Israeli routine and its annual calendar are influenced by both the natural seasons and the holiday seasons, which are set by tradition and religious observance. There's a historical and conscious connection between them, and this connection dictates the daily schedule. This is how we have .the school year's summer break or the "Knesset's winter session", and this is how we say "before the holidays" or "after the holidays", and each of these has different characteristics and dates that shift from year to year – between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars.
For example: Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year holiday.
It kicks off the long "holiday season" of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. It falls on one of the days in the Gregorian month of September – sometimes in the middle, sometimes at the end. And sometimes even at the very beginning of September, just a few days after the school year kicks off and students return from their long summer break.
Between the two main calendars, the Muslim calendar also interweaves itself, determining the holiday dates for Israeli Arabs, the largest minority group among Israel's citizens, and in our neighboring Palestinian Authority. They work for us, the Jews, and trade with us, and provide us with services.
Because of their inherent involvement in Israel's daily life, their holidays and vacations also affect the overall fabric of life in the country.
Unlike the two main calendars, which are based on the moon's cycle but somehow meet every few years, the Muslim calendar is based solely on the lunar cycle, which is why it shifts from month to month each year, rotating through all four seasons.
Israelis have learned to live with this calendar blend and maintain a normal routine with it. Their minds operate in perfect sync between the two, and everyone knows, more or less, what is happening and when. This navigation through time is a core element of 'Israeli-ness'—both officially and unofficially.
For example:
A Jewish Israeli child is born into two dates – the Gregorian date and the Hebrew date. Both are recorded on their national ID card, and both will accompany them throughout their life, and after their death.
The Gregorian calendar dictates when to file reports with the tax and VAT authorities, and it will appear on computer and phone screens, on job application forms, and on official state documents.
The Hebrew calendar serves as the school yearbook and determines the date of their military draft.
Their salary will be paid at the beginning of the Gregorian month, and the holiday will greet them on the 1st of Tishrei or the 14th of Nisan. They'll They will retire according to the Gregorian calendar, but pass away according to the Hebrew one—at least if they wish for Kaddish to be recited on the anniversary of their death.
Since the early 2000s, as computers and the internet have taken over our lives, the printed calendar is gradually disappearing, and Israelis are connecting more to the Gregorian than the Hebrew. In the calendar built into computers or phones, the Gregorian dominates and also incorporates the dates of Jewish holidays.
Those deeply committed to Jewish tradition, particularly within the various religious sectors, are not quick to abandon the Hebrew dates. Many continue to use only the Hebrew date, even when writing checks—though even checks are fading from the world, replaced by digital transfers based solely on the Gregorian calendar.
Israeli Snack Bites from the Hebrew/Gregorian Calendar:
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Double the Love:
Tu B'Av (a Jewish day of love) and Valentine's Day. -
The Triple Weekend:
Three days of rest in one week: Friday (Muslim), Saturday (Jewish), Sunday (Christian). -
Calendar Overlap:
when Hanukkah (Jewish) and Christmas (Christian), meet (and sometimes even coincide). -
Formal Hebrew Dating:
Adding the prefix "Hey" to the year – for example, H'Tashpa" (ה׳תשפ״ה - 5785). For instance: B' Av H'Tashpa"h (ב׳ באב ה׳תשפ״ה). -
The Haredi Nuance: "Two thousand twenty-three according to their reckoning" (a way of saying: their calendar, not ours).
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Calendar Idioms: "Lo Kol Yom Purim" (It's not Purim every day - meaning "don't expect a party every day"). "Partzuf Tisha B'Av" (A Tisha B'Av face - describing a gloomy or sorrowful expression). April Fool's Day.
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A Classic Calendar Song: "Shneim Asar Yerachim" (Twelve Months) by Naomi Shemer.
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(Click to hear YouTube video with the song, below)
Historical Bits
The Civil Calendar was introduced to the Land of Israel by the British, who conquered the land in the early 20th century. They displaced the Muslim calendar, which had been customary here during the Turkish rule, and implemented the calendar used throughout the Empire and the Western world.
This calendar took root and remained immovable even after the British departed and the State of Israel was established. The founders of the state established the Hebrew date as a standard of heritage and a symbol. Just a little. Not too prominent, and never interfering with the synchronization of our daily routine with the rest of the world.
Over the years, some have tried to completely abolish the connection to the Gregorian date, while others demanded its exclusive use in all areas of life. But life is stronger than lobbyists of any kind, leaving us with this strange mix—so Israeli, so Jewish—unlike any other country in the world.
More Historical Bits:
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The "Muharram" Lease:
Until the establishment of the state, (in 1948) a unique "rental year" was common in the Jewish Yishuv for real estate and business leases—a remnant of the Turkish era. This practice persisted throughout the British Mandate period, with tenants and landlords continuing to sign agreements beginning in the month of "Muharram," the first month of the Muslim calendar -
The April Fiscal Year:
Until 1987, Israel followed a fiscal year that began on April 1st and ended on March 31st. All financial affairs—including the state budget, corporate balance sheets, and annual income tax reports—were managed according to this cycle.
This is part of "The Israeli Story 1948-2025" project.
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