If you’ve ever looked at a Hebrew calendar and wondered, “How many months are there in the Jewish calendar?”, you’re not alone.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar used in most of the world today, the Jewish calendar (also known as the Hebrew calendar) follows a unique system based on both the moon and the sun. That makes it lunisolar, which affects how months and even holidays are structured from year to year.
So, how many months are there in the Jewish calendar?
The Short Answer: 12 Months… Most of the Time
In a regular Jewish year, there are 12 months. However, in leap years, there are 13 months.
Yes, you read that correctly! The Jewish calendar adds an entire extra month in 7 out of every 19 years. This adjustment keeps the calendar in sync with the seasons, especially to ensure that Passover always falls in the spring—as required by the Torah.
The 12 Jewish Months (in a Regular Year)
Here are the standard 12 months of the Jewish calendar, listed in order:
- Nisan (נִיסָן) – March/April
- Iyar (אִיָּר) – April/May
- Sivan (סִיוָן) – May/June
- Tammuz (תַּמּוּז) – June/July
- Av (אָב) – July/August
- Elul (אֱלוּל) – August/September
- Tishrei (תִּשְׁרֵי) – September/October
- Cheshvan (חֶשְׁוָן) – October/November
- Kislev (כִּסְלֵו) – November/December
- Tevet (טֵבֵת) – December/January
- Shevat (שְׁבָט) – January/February
- Adar (אֲדָר) – February/March
What Happens in a Leap Year?
In a Jewish leap year, the month of Adar is split into two:
- Adar I (אֲדָר א׳) – The “extra” month added
- Adar II (אֲדָר ב׳) – The regular Adar, where the holiday Purim is celebrated
This means that a Jewish leap year has 13 months, and the extra month gives the calendar a total of about 384 days, instead of the typical 354 days.
Why Is There a Leap Year?
Because the Jewish calendar is based on lunar months (each month begins with the new moon), a standard year only has about 354 days, which is 11 days shorter than the solar year (about 365.25 days).
Without a correction, holidays like Passover and Sukkot, which are meant to fall in specific seasons, would drift earlier each year.
So, to keep the festivals aligned with their proper seasons—especially spring for Passover—the extra month of Adar is added 7 times every 19 years, in a cycle known as the Metonic cycle.
Hebrew Calendar vs. Gregorian Calendar
| Feature | Hebrew Calendar | Gregorian Calendar |
| Based on | Lunar + Solar cycles | Solar cycle only |
| Typical year length | 354 days | 365 days |
| Leap year adjustment | Adds 13th month | Adds 1 day (Feb 29) |
| Start of the year | Tishrei (Rosh Hashanah) | January |
The Hebrew calendar also begins its days at sunset, rather than at midnight—just another example of how deeply connected it is to the rhythms of nature.
Learn More About Hebrew Months—and the Language Behind Them
As you can see, the Jewish calendar is deeply rich in history, spirituality, and mathematical precision. And when you start learning Hebrew, you begin to unlock so much more meaning behind each month’s name, the holidays they hold, and the language that brings Jewish tradition to life.
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Learning Hebrew opens the door to understanding the Jewish calendar, prayers, holidays, and culture in a deeper, more meaningful way.
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