Iyar (Hebrew: אִייָר‎ or אִיָּר‎, Standard ʾĪyyar Tiberian ʾĪyyār; from Akkadian: 𒌗𒄞 itiayari "rosette; blossom") is the eighth month of the civil year (which starts on 1 Tishrei) and the second month of the Jewish religious year (which starts on 1 Nisan) on the Hebrew calendar. The name is Babylonian in origin. It is a month of 29 days. Iyar usually falls in April–May on the Gregorian calendar.

Iyar
A bonfire in Israel on Lag BaOmer celebrated on the 18th of Iyar
Native nameאִייָר (Hebrew)
CalendarHebrew calendar
Month number2
Number of days29
SeasonSpring (Northern Hemisphere)
Gregorian equivalentApril–May
Significant days
← Nisan
Sivan →

In the Hebrew Bible, before the Babylonian captivity, the month was called Ziv (זו‎, 1 Kings 6:1, 6:37). Ziv is a Hebrew word that means "light" or "glow".

Along with all other current, post-biblical Jewish month names, Iyar was adopted during the Babylonian captivity. In the Babylonian calendar its name was Araḫ Āru, which can be interpreted as "month of blossoming".[1]

Holidays

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Jewish holidays

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  • 14 IyarPesach Sheni
  • 18 IyarLag BaOmer
  • Fast of Behav – see Cheshvan. It is observed on the Monday, Thursday, and Monday after the first Sabbath after Rosh Chodesh Iyar. Unlike in Cheshvan, the Eastern and Western Ashkenazic rites observe it at the same time.

Israeli holidays

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In Jewish history

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Muss-Arnolt, W (1892). "The Names of the Assyro-Babylonian Months and Their Regents". Journal of Biblical Literature. 11 (1): 72–94 [78]. (subscription only, free access at [1])
  2. ^ Nissan Mindel (2023). "Eli The High Priest". Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  3. ^ "The Twenty Eighth of Iyar". Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
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