Jewish family memory
Jewish calendar: meaning and family-history use
The Jewish calendar is lunisolar: its months and years relate to lunar and solar cycles. Hebrew and civil anniversaries therefore do not remain paired on the same civil date every year.
By Pinkas · Updated September 28, 2026
How to record it in a family archive
Save the original calendar, day, month, and year. Record uncertainty about evening timing and label a converted date with the assumptions used.
A practical example
If a record says Adar, retain the year before converting it. A displayed anniversary in a future civil year should remain distinct from the original historical date.
Keep the original context
A glossary definition helps orient a reader; it cannot resolve an individual document, identity, or observance question. Save the original source and note who supplied any interpretation. Ask a qualified reader or the relevant community authority when the context is unclear.