Special Events Tel Aviv

All Jewish religious festivals and holidays - like Shabbat - are 24 hours long, starting the previous evening at nightfall and ending at nightfall. Jewish religious festivals fall on a different date every year, specific dates have been given for 2003. Other dates for annual festivals are general rather than specific for 2003.

Tu b’Shvat (’New Year of Trees’), an annual celebration of nature, 18 Jan 2003, throughout the city
Purim (a day of parades, fancy dress and partying; the story of Esther is read in synagogues), 18 Mar 2003, throughout the city
Pesach (Passover), nothing with yeast or which is ‘leavened’ is allowed all week - that includes bread and beer, first and last days are public holidays, 17-23 Apr 2003 (starts with ‘Seder Night’ festive meal on evening of 16 Apr), throughout the city
Yom HaShoah, memorial day for victims of the Holocaust, 29 Apr 2003, throughout the city
Yom Hazikaron, memorial day for all who died defending the State of Israel, 6 May 2003, throughout the city
Israel Independence Day, celebrations of the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, 7 May 2003, throughout the city
International Opera Festival, around 25 May-1 Jun, Caesarea
Tel Aviv Pride, Israel’s biggest, loudest, most ostentatious gay celebration, Jun, throughout the city
Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), celebrations of the reunification of Jerusalem and the return to Jewish rule in 1967, 30 May 2003, also celebrated throughout Tel Aviv
Shavuot (Pentecost), festival of first fruits and of the giving of the Torah to the Jews, 6-7 Jun every year, throughout the city
Tisha b’Av (Nineth of the Hebrew month Av), a religious fast day commemorating the destruction of the Temple, 13 Aug 2003, throughout the city
Jaffa Nights, annual four-day street festival of music, theatre, dance and art exhibitions, mid-Aug, Old Jaffa
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), 27-28 Sep 2003, throughout the city
Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), religious fast day, 6 Oct 2003, throughout the city
Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), 11-17 Oct 2003, throughout the city
Wine Festival, Oct, Rishon Le-Zion, south of Tel Aviv
Rabin Memorial Rally, 3 Nov, Rabin Square
Tel Aviv Jaffa Festival, 10-24 Nov, Jaffa
Chanukah (Festival of Lights), 20-27 Dec 2003, throughout the city
Christmas Eve, 24 Dec, at Christian locations throughout the city
Christmas Day, 25 Dec, at Christian locations throughout the city