Public Holidays in Israel

Israel observes 10 major holidays drawn from the Jewish religious calendar and national commemorations. Yom Kippur is the most solemn day, when the entire country comes to a standstill. Rosh Hashana, Passover, Sukkot, and Shavuot are the principal religious festivals. Holocaust Remembrance Day and Independence Day form a powerful emotional sequence from mourning to celebration. Hebrew calendar dates shift annually relative to the Gregorian calendar, so holiday dates vary each year.