Hello ciao and thank you for the question,
How does the Jewish calendar differ from our calendar?
"The Jewish calendar differs from the common one. It is based on the
revolutions of the moon around the earth, whereas the common calendar
is based on the earth's rotation around the sun. The lunar calendar
comprises (in a normal year) twelve months each of 29 or 30 days. In a
leap-year a thirteenth month is added, known as ADAR II. A leap year
occurs seven times in each cycle of nineteen years; in the third,
sixth, eighth, eleventh, fourteenth, seventeenth and nineteenth years.
By adding the extra month, the lunar year (354 days) is made to
harmonise with the solar year (365 days). The Hebrew names of the
month were adopted from the Babylonian calendar during the Babylonian
exile in 586 B.C.E. The first written calendar was compiled by Hillel
II in 359 C.E. The days of the New Moon are considered important days
in the Jewish calendar. They are known as Rosh Chodesh. On Saturdays
preceding the New Moon and in the New Moon days, special prayers are
recited."
http://www.join.org.au/nswjbod/calendar.htm
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What are the months in the jewish calendar?
"The months in the Jewish calendar are as follows:
Nisan.
The first month of the Jewish calendar (Ex. 12:2); the seventh from
the beginning of the civil year. The name appears in the Bible only in
Esther 3:7 and Nehemiah 2:1. In Ex. 13:4, 23:15, 34:18; Deut. 16:1, it
is called "the month of Abib (Spring). According to one tradition, the
Creation occured in the month of Nisan. It is also the month in which
the biblical patriarchs were born, Moses led the Jews out of Egypt,
and the final redemption is to take place (TB. RH 11a). In biblical
times, kings reckoned the years of their reign from the first of
Nisan. It is customary during the entire month of Nisan to refrain
from reciting tahanun (supplication) prayers, eulogies and memorial
prayers. Notable holidays are Pasover (15-21/22), Holocaust Memorial
Day (27). Historically, the Tabernacle was completed in the wilderness
on the 1st; the Paschal sacrafice was offered in biblical times and
the Warsaw Ghetto Revolt in 1943 began on the 14th.
Iyyar.
The Bible calls this month Ziv (radience) (I Kg. 6:1, 6:37), and it is
referred to as Iyyar in the Talmud (RH 1:3). Notable Holidays are
Israeli Independence Day (5), Lag b'Omer (18), and Yom Yerushalayim
(28).
Sivan.
The name appears in the Bible only in Esther 8:9. Notable holidays are
Shavuot (6/7).
Tammuz.
Tammuz is mentioned once in the Bible in reference to the Babylonian
god (Ezek. 8:14); in the Talmud it appears frequently as the name of
the month. Notable holidays are the Fast of Tammuz (17).
Av.
Av first appears in Jewish sources in Megillat Ta'anit of the talmudic
period, but appears earlier in Assyrian inscriptions, apparently
referring to spring and meaning "fresh growth". As many national
calamities occured in Av, it is also called Menahem (consoler),
expressing the hope it will be a month of consolation. "When Av
arrives, gladness is diminished," say the talmudic sages (Ta'an. 4:6).
Hence, celebration is severely curtailed until after the ninth of Av.
During these nine days, amusements, bathing for pleasure, business
dealings, new construction, planting and nonvital repairs are avoided;
meat is not eaten and wine not drunk except on Sabbath and at a
se'udat mitzah repast. Notable holidays are Tish b'Av (9). Notable
historic events: Aaron died on the 1st; on the 9th: the First Temple
was destroyed (586 BCE); the Second Temple was destroyed (70 CE);
Jerusalem was razed by Hadrian (132 CE); Bethar fell as the Bar Kokhba
revolt was crushed (135 CE); England expelled the Jews (1290 CE);
Spain expelled the Jews (1492 CE); and the Jews of Rome were enclosed
in a ghetto (1555 CE); on the 10th, France expelled the Jews (1306
CE).
Elul.
As Elul immediately precedes the Days of Awe, it is a month of
repentence in which special prayers are said and the shofar is sounded
at the weekday morning service. In the Sephardi rites, selihot are
recited daily throughout the month, whereas Ashkenazim recite them
only during the week before Rosh ha-Shanah.
Tishri.
In the Torah, Tishri is referred to as "the month of Ethanim", the
month of natural forces (I Kg. 8:2). The expression is possibly a
reference to the winds that are expected to bring the season's first
rains, or to the torrents that are supposed to fill the wadis in Eretz
Israel at this time of year. The name "Tishri", from the Akkadian root
meaning "to begin", first appears in Jewish sourses in the Talmud.
Notable holidays are Rosh Ha-Shana (1/2), Fast of Gedaliah (3); Yom
Kippur (10); Sukkot (15-22); Hoshana Rabbah (21); Shemini Atzertet
(22); Simchat Torah (23). Notable historic events: on the 10th, the
Jews were expelled from Paris (1394 CE) and the Yom Kippur War began
(1973 CE).
Heshivan.
The Torah calls it "the month of the Bul" (I Kg. 6:38) in reference to
the bountiful harvests associated with the season. The name Heshivan
first appears in Jewish sourses in talmudic literature and Josephus
(Ant. 1,3,3). It is often referred to as Marheshivan, i.e. with the
prefix "mar". The term "mar" is thought to mean "a drop" and relates
to the month as the beginning of the rainy season. There are no
festivals or fast days in Heshivan. In that respect it is unique.
Notable historical days: On the 16th, Kristallnach, the the
destruction of synagogues in Nazi Germany and Austria, occured.(9/10
November 1938).
Kislev.
Kislev is mentioned in the Torah (Zech. 7:1; Neh. 1:1). According to
the Talmud, "If rains have not fallen by the 1st of Kislev, three
public fasts are decreed" (TB. Ta'an. 10a). Notable holidays:
Chanukkah (starts on the 25th). Notable historical events: on the
17th, the U.N. General Assembly decided on partition of Palestine (29
November 1947); on the 22nd, the State of Israel declared Jerusalem
its capital (1949); and on the 24th, the building of the Second Temple
occurred (Haggai 2:18) and the British captured of Jerusalem (8
December 1917).
Tevet.
Although it is mentioned in the Torah its meaning is obscure (Esth.
2:16). The last two or three days of Hanukkah fall at the beginning of
Tevet. Notable Holidays: Asarah be-Tevet (10), a day of fasting and
mourning, marking the start of the siege of Jerusalem by the
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar (588 BCE); this day is also the
Memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust whose day of death is
unknown, set by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate (1949). Notable historical
events: on the 19th, Keren Kayemet le-Israel (Jewish National Fund)
was established, (1901 CE); on the 20th, Maimonides died (1204 CE);
and on the 23rd Portugal expelled its Jewish population (1496).
Shevat.
The name appeared once in the Torah (Zech. 1:7). Notable holidays: Tu
b'Shevat (15), the New Year for Trees. Notable historical events: on
the 15th, the First Knesset convened (1949); and on the 18th, the
Knesset elected Chaim Weizmann as first president of the State of
Israel.
Adar/Adar II.
The name appears in the Torah in Ezra 6:15 and seven times in Esther.
In a leap year, the intercalcated month is called Adar Sheni (Second
Adar or Adar II) and the regular month Adar Rishom (First Adar or Adar
I). Events normally occuring in Adar are celebrated in Adar II;
however, the yahrzeit of someone who died in an ordinary Adar is
marked in Adar I (although, because there is a difference of opinion,
some will say Kaddish also in Adar II). "When Adar arrives people
should increase gladness" (TB. Ta'an. 29a) because of the Purim
deliverance that occured in that month. In Adar the half shekel was
collected from the public for Temple and related purposes; the
forbidden kilayim grafted crops were uprooted; repairs were begun on
roads and on water sources damaged by rain, to make them fit for the
Passover pilgrims to Jerusalem. Notable holidays are the Fast of
Esther (13); Purim (14); and Shushan Purim (15). Notable historic
events include on the1st, the Shekel campaign begun in Temple period;
and on the 7th, the supposed date of the birth and death of Moses,
which is marked as a yahzeit of all persons whose burial place is
unknown, and, in Israel, of the "Unknown Soldiers."
http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/05-08.html
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What are the corresponding month or months in our calendar?
How is the Jewish calendar adjusted to match our year?
The table below also answers this question
"Month Length Gregorian Equivalent
Nissan 30 days March-April
Iyar 29 days April-May
Sivan 30 days May-June
Tammuz 29 days June-July
Av 30 days July-August
Elul 29 days August-September
Tishri 30 days September-October
Heshvan 29 or 30 days October-November
Kislev 30 or 29 days November-December
Tevet 29 days December-January
Shevat 30 days January-February
Adar 29 or 30 days February-March
Adar II 29 days March-April
In leap years, Adar has 30 days. In non-leap years, Adar has 29 days."
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/Judaism/calendar.html
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What year is it according to the Jewish calendar?
According to the Jewish calendar the year 2002 is 5763
5 November 2002 = 30 Heshvan 5763
http://www.ahavat-israel.com/ahavat/torat/calendar.asp
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Thank you for the question, which was quite a learning experience for
me too. If you need any clarification regarding my answer do not
hesitate to ask.
Best regards
THX1138
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