The month of Tishrei: the month with the most holidays
Tishrei (תשרי) is undoubtedly the busiest month in the Jewish calendar. In the space of just three weeks, it concentrates no less than five major holidays, each with its own laws, traditions, and significance. From the solemn blasts of the Shofar to the joyful dances of Simchat Torah, passing through the absolute introspection of Yom Kippur and the joy of living in the Sukkah, Tishrei is a true spiritual journey.
In 2026, the Tishrei holidays correspond to the beginning of the Hebrew year 5787. The entire season runs from Friday, September 11 to Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Complete calendar of Tishrei holidays 2026 (5787)
| Holiday | Gregorian Dates | Hebrew Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah (1st day = Shabbat) | Sat. Sept. 12 – Sun. Sept. 13 | 1-2 Tishrei |
| Fast of Gedalia | Monday, September 14 | 3 Tishrei |
| Yom Kippur | Monday, September 21 | 10 Tishrei |
| Sukkot (Yom Tov) | Sat. Sept. 26 – Sun. Sept. 27 | 15-16 Tishrei |
| Hol Hamoed Sukkot | Mon. Sept. 28 – Fri. Oct. 2 | 17-21 Tishrei |
| Hoshana Rabbah | Friday, October 2 | 21 Tishrei |
| Shemini Atzeret (Yizkor) | Saturday, October 3 | 22 Tishrei |
| Simchat Torah | Sunday, October 4 | 23 Tishrei |
Rosh Hashanah begins on Shabbat (Friday evening, Sept 11): the Shofar is not blown on the 1st day. The blasts are deferred to the 2nd day (Sunday, Sept 13).
The beginning of Sukkot also falls on Shabbat (Friday evening, Sept 25): candles must be lit before sunset.
Rosh Hashanah — The Jewish New Year (September 12-13)
Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה, "Head of the Year") marks the beginning of the Hebrew year 5787. According to tradition, it is the anniversary of the creation of man (Adam and Eve) and the Day of Judgment (Yom Hadin) where G-d inscribes each being's destiny in the Book of Life for the coming year.
The Shofar: the central Mitzvah
The blowing of the Shofar (שופר, ram's horn) is the paramount Mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah. 100 blasts are sounded according to three motifs — Tekiah (long blast), Shevarim (three broken blasts), and Teruah (rapid, staccato blasts). The Shofar is a call to awaken the soul, to Teshuvah (repentance), and to recognize divine Kingship.
Note for 2026: since the 1st day of Rosh Hashanah is Shabbat, the Shofar is not blown on that day. All blasts are concentrated on the 2nd day, Sunday, September 13.
The Simanim: symbolic foods
On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, a festive meal is organized around symbolic foods (Simanim) accompanied by blessings for the new year: apple dipped in honey (for a sweet year), pomegranate (to multiply our merits), fish head (to be at the head and not the tail), round Challah (symbolizing the cycle of the year), dates, leeks, beets, beans…
Tashlich
On the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (this year postponed to the 2nd day as the 1st is Shabbat), people go to a body of water for the Tashlich ceremony: symbolically "casting" their sins into the water while reciting verses from the prophet Micah.
Estimated times for Paris
| Event | Time (Paris) |
|---|---|
| Candle lighting (Shabbat + Yom Tov) | Fri. Sept. 11 ~7:54 PM |
| 2nd evening (lighting from an existing flame) | Sat. Sept. 12 after ~8:55 PM |
| Shofar blasts (2nd day only) | Sun. Sept. 13 — morning service |
| End of Rosh Hashanah | Sun. Sept. 13 ~8:57 PM |
The Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah)
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Yamim Noraim (ימים נוראים, "Days of Awe") or Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (Ten Days of Repentance). This is a special period when, according to the Talmud, "G-d is more readily found." Prayers are intensified, forgiveness is sought from those one has wronged, and acts of Tzedakah (charity) are multiplied.
The Fast of Gedalia (Tzom Gedalia) takes place on 3 Tishrei, which is Monday, September 14, 2026. It is a minor fast (from dawn to dusk) in memory of the assassination of Gedalia ben Ahikam, the last Jewish governor of Judea after the destruction of the 1st Temple.
Yom Kippur — The Day of Atonement (September 21)
Yom Kippur (יום כיפור) is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. It is the Day of Atonement, when the divine seal is affixed to the judgment begun on Rosh Hashanah. For approximately 25 hours, from sunset to the following evening, a total fast and five prohibitions are observed.
The 5 prohibitions of Yom Kippur
1. Eating and drinking. 2. Washing (for pleasure). 3. Applying creams or perfumes. 4. Wearing leather shoes. 5. Marital relations.
Sick individuals, pregnant or nursing women, and children under Bar/Bat Mitzvah age are not required to fast or receive leniencies. Consult your Rav and your doctor before Yom Kippur if your health condition requires medication or nutritional treatment.
Yom Kippur Highlights
Kapparot — The eve of Yom Kippur, symbolic ceremony of transferring sins. Seudah Mafseket — The last meal before the fast, taken in serenity. Kol Nidre — The opening prayer, one of the most poignant moments in Jewish liturgy. Ne'ilah — The closing prayer, when the "Gates of Heaven" close. Followed by a single Shofar blast marking the end of the fast.
Estimated times for Paris
| Event | Time (Paris) |
|---|---|
| Candle lighting + beginning of fast | Sun. Sept. 20 ~7:30 PM |
| Kol Nidre | Sun. Sept. 20 evening (synagogue) |
| Yizkor | Mon. Sept. 21 morning (service) |
| Ne'ilah + end of fast | Mon. Sept. 21 ~8:30 PM |
Sukkot — The Feast of Tabernacles (Sept. 26 – Oct. 2)
Five days after Yom Kippur, we enter the joy of Sukkot (סוכות), the "Feast of Tabernacles" or "Season of our Rejoicing" (Zeman Simchateinu). For seven days, meals are eaten — and ideally one sleeps — in the Sukkah, a temporary hut whose leafy roof (Skhakh) allows the stars to be seen, commemorating the Clouds of Glory that protected the Israelites in the desert.
The Four Species (Arba'at Haminim)
The other great Mitzvah of Sukkot is the taking of the Four Species, which are gathered and waved each day (except Shabbat) in the six directions: Lulav (palm branch), Etrog (citron), Hadassim (three myrtle branches), and Aravot (two willow branches).
Estimated times for Paris
| Event | Time (Paris) |
|---|---|
| Beginning of Sukkot (Shabbat + Yom Tov) | Fri. Sept. 25 ~7:15 PM |
| 2nd day (lighting from existing flame) | Sat. Sept. 26 after ~8:15 PM |
| Hol Hamoed (intermediate days) | Mon. Sept. 28 – Fri. Oct. 2 |
Hoshana Rabbah (October 2)
The 7th day of Sukkot, Hoshana Rabbah, is the day when, according to tradition, the final seal of the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is affixed. Seven circuits (Hakafot) are made around the Bima, holding the Four Species, and then willow branches (Aravot) are beaten on the ground. Many have the custom of staying up the previous night to study Torah.
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (October 3-4)
Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת, "Eighth Day of Assembly") is a distinct holiday that follows Sukkot. One no longer stays in the Sukkah and no longer takes the Four Species. The prayer for rain (Tefilat Hageshem) and Yizkor in memory of the departed are recited.
Simchat Torah (שמחת תורה, "Joy of the Torah"), the following day in the diaspora (Sunday, October 4, 2026), is one of the most joyous holidays. The reading of the Book of Deuteronomy is completed, and the Book of Genesis is immediately restarted, marking the eternal cycle of the Torah. The Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and carried in joyful procession (seven Hakafot), accompanied by singing and dancing.
Food supplements and Tishrei holidays
🍯 K-Vital during the Tishrei holidays
The Tishrei holidays do not have any 'Chametz restrictions (unlike Passover). Your Kosher Lamehadrin Parve certified K-Vital products can be consumed normally during Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.
The only exception is Yom Kippur, where the total fast prohibits all consumption, including food supplements.
- Before the Yom Kippur fast — Take your K-Vital dose during the Seudah Mafseket (last meal) to support your body
- After Yom Kippur — Resume your regimen as soon as the fast ends
- During Sukkot — As our products are Parve, they integrate into all festive meals, both dairy and meat
- Fast of Gedalia (Sept. 14) — Minor fast from dawn to dusk, no supplements during the day
Tishrei is an intense month with fasts, vigils, and many festive meals. K-Vital Magnesium Bisglycinate can help you reduce fatigue and support your nervous system during this busy period. Our Marine Collagen powder mixes easily into a drink for breaking the fast.
Summary: all Tishrei 2026 dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Fri. Sept. 11 (~7:54 PM) | Candle lighting — Beginning of Rosh Hashanah + Shabbat |
| Sat. Sept. 12 | Rosh Hashanah 1st day (no Shofar — Shabbat) |
| Sun. Sept. 13 | Rosh Hashanah 2nd day — Shofar blasts — Tashlich |
| Mon. Sept. 14 | Fast of Gedalia |
| Sun. Sept. 20 (~7:30 PM) | Eve of Yom Kippur — Kol Nidre — Beginning of fast |
| Mon. Sept. 21 (~8:30 PM) | Yom Kippur — Ne'ilah — End of fast |
| Fri. Sept. 25 (~7:15 PM) | Beginning of Sukkot + Shabbat |
| Sat. Sept. 26 – Sun. Sept. 27 | Sukkot Yom Tov (1st and 2nd days) |
| Mon. Sept. 28 – Fri. Oct. 2 | Hol Hamoed Sukkot |
| Fri. Oct. 2 | Hoshana Rabbah |
| Sat. Oct. 3 | Shemini Atzeret — Yizkor — Tefilat Hageshem |
| Sun. Oct. 4 | Simchat Torah — Hakafot — Genesis recommences |