National Israel Holidays
A list of Public and Bank Holidays

Public Israel holidays are a fantastic time to visit and sight-see.

music and fun during pesach holiday in Caesarea Israel

On most of the holidays, city streets are decorated, many museums are open and there are holiday events for both adults and children.

Public Israel holidays are different than public holidays anywhere else. Israel is the only country in the world whose national holidays are primarily based on Jewish holidays, which start at sunset and end the following evening.

2023 and 2024 Public Holidays in Israel

Are you preparing for a trip to Israel?

Below is a list of all bank and public Israel holiday dates. Whether you are a pleasure or business traveler, check out the dates below before your planned visit.

2023 Bank and Public Holidays in Israel

Tue. March 7

Purim

Banks and public institutions are closed, except in Jerusalem. Most companies work

Wed. March 8

Shushan Purim (celebrated in Jerusalem)

Most businesses in Jerusalem are closed. Normal work day in the rest of Israel.

Wed. Apr. 5

Eve of Pesach - Passover

On the eve of Pesasch holiday, Jews have a Seder meal with a special Seder plate

Half or Full Day Off

Thu. Apr. 6

Pesach - Passover

Full day off

Sun. - Mon. Apr. 7 - 11

on Passover holiday Jews read from the Haggadah of Pesach

Chol Hamoed Pesach - Passover Intermediate Days

Public institutions are closed. Most companies work half or full days.

Wed. Apr. 12

Eve of Last Day of Pesach - Passover

4 glasses of wine are drunk on Passover night

Half or full day off

Thu. Apr. 13

Last Day of Pesach - Passover

Full day off

Tue. Apr 25

Eve of Israel Independence Day, Israel Memorial Day

Israel Memorial Day is also the even of Israel Independence day holiday

Half or full day off

Wed. Apr 26

Israel Independence Day

the Israeli flag is a symbol of Israel's national independence day

Full day off

Fri. May. 26

Eve of Shavuot - Pentecost

Half or Full Day Off

Sat. May 27

Shavuot - Pentecost

Shavuot or Pentecost is the Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Torah to Moses

Full Day Off

Thu. Jul. 27

Tisha B'Av - Day of Fast

Banks and public institutions are closed. Most companies work.

Fri. Sep. 15

Eve of Rosh Hashana - Jewish New Year

on the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashana holiday, a special blessing is made on wine

Half or Full Day Off

Sat. - Sun Sep. 16-17

Rosh Hashana - Jewish New Year (2 days)

on Rosh Hashana the Jewish New Year holiday Jews eat apples with honey

Full Day Off

Sun. Sep. 24

Eve of Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

Challah bread is eaten on the even of Yom Kippur and all Jewish holidays and on Sabbath Eve

Half or Full Day Off

Mon. Sep. 25

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

The shofar is blown on Yom Kippur, as well as on Rosh Hashana

Full Day Off. No transportation. Read more on Yom Kippur in Israel.

Fri. Sep. 29

Eve of Sukkot - Tabernacles

Half or Full Off

Sat. Sep. 30

Sukkot - Tabernacles

Full Day Off (as usual on Saturday)

Sat - Thu. Oct. 1 - 5

Jews eat in a Sukka hut during the holiday of Sukkot - Tabernacles

Chol Hamoed Sukkot - Tabernacles Intermediate Days

On the holiday of Sukkot or Tabernacles, Jews celebrate with 4 plant species including the lulav from the date palm tree

Public institutions are closed. Most companies work half or full days.

Fri. Oct. 6

Eve of Last Day of Sukkot - Hoshana Raba

a citron or etrog is one of the symbols of Sukkot holiday

Half or Full Day Off

Sat. Oct 9

Last Day of Sukkot - Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, the last day of Sukkot celebrates the Torah

Full Day Off (as usual on Saturday)

Thu. Dec 7 - Fri. Dec 15

Hanuka

Most companies work full days. Schools are closed for some days.

2024 Bank and Public Holidays in Israel

Sun. March 24

Purim

Banks and public institutions are closed, except in Jerusalem. Most companies work

Mon. March 25

Shushan Purim (celebrated in Jerusalem)

Most businesses in Jerusalem are closed. Normal work day in the rest of Israel.

Mon. Apr. 22

Eve of Pesach - Passover

Half or Full Day Off

Tue. Apr. 23

Pesach - Passover

Full day off

Wed. - Mon. Apr. 24 - 27

Chol Hamoed Pesach - Passover Intermediate Days

Public institutions are closed. Most companies work half or full days.

Tue. Apr. 28

Eve of Last Day of Pesach - Passover

Half or full day off

Wed. Apr. 29

Last Day of Pesach - Passover

Full day off

Mon. May 13

Eve of Israel Independence Day, Israel Memorial Day

Half or full day off

Tue. May 14

Israel Independence Day

Full day off

Tue. Jun. 11

Eve of Shavuot - Pentecost

Half or Full Day Off

Wed. Jun 12

Shavuot - Pentecost

Full Day Off

Mon. Aug. 19

Tisha B'Av - Day of Fast

Banks and public institutions are closed. Most companies work.

Tue. Oct. 2

Eve of Rosh Hashana - Jewish New Year

Half or Full Day Off

Wed. Oct. 3

Rosh Hashana - Jewish New Year (2nd day)

Full Day Off

Fri. Oct. 11

Eve of Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

Half or Full Day Off

Sat. Oct. 12

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

Full Day Off. No transportation. Read more on Yom Kippur in Israel.

Wed. Oct. 16

Eve of Sukkot - Tabernacles

Half or Full Off

Thu. Oct. 17

Sukkot - Tabernacles

Full Day Off

Fri. - Tue. Oct. 18 -22

Chol Hamoed Sukkot - Tabernacles Intermediate Days

Public institutions are closed. Most companies work half or full days.

Wed. Oct. 23

Eve of Last Day of Sukkot - Hoshana Raba

Half or Full Day Off

Thu. Oct 24

Last Day of Sukkot - Simchat Torah

Full Day Off

Wed. Dec 25 - Tuw. Dec 31

Hanuka

Most companies work full days. Schools are closed for some days.

Yom Kippur is Unique in Israel

Once a year, almost of Israel shuts down on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday that falls somewhere between mid September to mid October.

At around 4 to 5 PM on the eve of Yom Kippur, the country goes quiet. Almost all private cars and motor bikes stop running. Its quite incredible.

israel holidays - yom kippur kids bike on tel aviv streets day and night

Photo courtesy of Yoni

The streets and highways fill up with kids biking and families strolling the normally buzzing boulevards.

There is an amazing and tranquil atmosphere until sundown the next day. It's my favorite day of the year, since I moved to Israel.

Sabbath Eve and Israel Holiday Eve

All Jewish holidays begin on the sundown before the actual holiday date. That's the reason that the holiday eve is also a full or a half vacation day.

Like the eves of Israel holidays, the Jewish Sabbath also begins on the sundown of Friday. So many banks and institutions are closed on Friday or are open half a day on Friday mornings until the early afternoon.

'Chol HaMoed' - Intermediate' Holiday Days

Chol HaMoed - 'Intermediate' Holidays

Like holiday eves, there are two 'intermediate' holidays (called in Hebrew 'Hol HaMoed) when banks and other official places are closed, either all day or on the afternoon.

Want a short description of Jewish holidays? Lean more here.