Hebrew Date
Converter

The Hebrew calendar, known in Hebrew as ha-luach ha-ivri, is one of the oldest calendars still in active use. It governs the dates of all Jewish holidays, Shabbat Torah readings, yahrzeit memorial observances, and lifecycle events like Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

Lunisolar Structure

Unlike the purely solar Gregorian calendar (365.25 days) or purely lunar Islamic calendar (354 days), the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar. Each month begins with the new moon, but an extra month is periodically added so that holidays stay in the correct season. Passover, for example, must always fall in spring.

The Hebrew Months

Leap Years and the Metonic Cycle

The Hebrew calendar follows a 19-year cycle (the Metonic cycle) in which 7 of the 19 years are leap years. In a leap year, an extra month called Adar II (Adar Sheni) is inserted after the regular Adar. This keeps the calendar aligned with the solar year and ensures seasonal holidays fall at the right time.

Year Numbering (Anno Mundi)

Hebrew years are counted from the traditional date of creation, known as Anno Mundi (AM). The Gregorian year 2026 corresponds to Hebrew years 5786-5787 (the Hebrew new year, Rosh Hashanah, falls in September/October). This means the Hebrew calendar has been counting for nearly 5,800 years.