Israel's Autumn Holidays Align With Weekends, Affecting Work and School

Israel's Jewish New Year, 5787, begins on Friday, September 11, coinciding with the start of Shabbat. The holiday will extend for three days, concluding on Sunday evening, September 13. This alignment of key autumn holidays with weekends is expected to significantly alter the usual work and school schedules for the country's residents.

Several major holidays this year will fall on Fridays and Saturdays. Rosh Hashanah starts on Friday, September 11, with the holiday period ending on Monday, September 14. Sukkot begins on Friday, September 25, and Simchat Torah falls on Saturday, October 2. This pattern means that while businesses might experience less disruption, individuals working standard weekdays will lose some of their usual days off as holidays merge with the weekend.

For students, the last day before the Yom Kippur and Sukkot break will be Friday, September 18. Kindergartens and primary and secondary schools are scheduled to reopen on Sunday, October 4, with high school students returning on Monday, October 5. Working parents can take advantage of an extended break from Friday, September 18, through the end of Yom Kippur on Monday.

Meteorological forecasts suggest that the autumn holiday period will be marked by hot weather, a factor for those planning outdoor activities or travel.