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Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year - Day of Judgement) Extended special synagogue services and blowing of the shofar (ram's horn.) Work restrictions on both days.
Tzom Gedalya (Fast of Gedalya) - Fast begins at dawn. Commemorates the assassination of Gedalya Ben Achikam and the start of Babylonian exile of the Jewish people (6th century B.C.E.). No restrictions on work.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonment) - Fast day, beginning prior to sunset on previous day. Day-long synagogue services, with many special prayers including memorial services.
Work restrictions on this day.
Sukkot (Feast of Thanksgiving and Booths) - Nine day holiday commemorating the Biblical wanderings of the Jewish people in the desert. Traditionally, all meals are eaten in a special temporary hut (Sukkah). Work restrictions on the first two and last two days. Memorial services on the eighth day.
Chanukah - Celebrations of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (2nd century B.C. E.). Commemorated by lighting candles each night. No restrictions on work.
Asarah B'Tevet (Fast of the 10th of Tevet) - Fast begins at dawn. Commemorates the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (6th century B.C.E.). No restrictions on work.
Tu B'Shvat - (Jewish Arbor Day) Celebration of new fruits and the Land of Israel. No restrictions on work.
Purim - Commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people in ancient Persia (6th century B.C.E.). No restrictions on work.
Pesach (Passover) - Commemorates the Biblical Exodus of the Jewish people from ancient Egypt. Special home ritual (Seder) - conducted on the first two evenings. Work restrictions of first two days and last two days. Memorial services on last day.
Yom Ha'Shoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) - Dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War II. No restrictions on work.
Yom Ha-Atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) - Commemorating the State of Israel's Declaration of Independence in 1948. No restrictions on work.
Lag B'Omer - Break in the traditional mourning period between Pesach and Shavuot for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (2nd century C.E.). No special services. No restrictions on work.
Shavuot (Pentecost) - Celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Work restrictions on both days. Memorial services second day.
Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (Fast of the 17th Tammuz) - Fast begins at dawn. Commemorates the breach of the walls of Jerusalem by the ancient Romans (1st century C.E.). No work restrictions.
Tisha B'Av (Fast of the 9th Day of Av) - Fast begins prior to sunset of previous day. Anniversary of the destructions of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem (6th century B.C.E. & 1st century C.E.) and other Jewish tragedies. Special mourning customs and prayers. Limited restrictions on work.
All Jewish holidays and observances, except as noted, begin at sundown on the evening prior to the first day, and traditionally, all normal business, school and/or secular activities cease. Employees should be allowed reasonable time to travel home to complete their preparations for the holidays. (These holidays have been highlighted on the calendar.) Also, traditional observance of fast and intermediate festival days includes special prayer and extended synagogue services both in the morning and afternoon.