If you just looked at your phone, it probably told you it’s Sunday, January 18, 2026. Boring, right? Just another winter weekend winding down. But if you’re tracking the what is today on jewish calendar question, things actually get way more interesting at sundown.
Technically, during the daylight hours of today, the date is 29 Tevet, 5786.
But here’s the kicker: in the Jewish tradition, days don't start at midnight. They start when the first three stars peek out in the evening. So, while you might be prepping for Monday morning, the Jewish world is actually transitioning into a brand new month called Shevat.
The Transition: From 29 Tevet to 1 Shevat
Most people think of the Jewish calendar as just a way to figure out when Hanukkah starts. It’s actually a lunar-solar masterpiece. Today, 29 Tevet, is the very last day of the month of Tevet. It’s a "bridge" day.
Tevet is usually a pretty heavy month. It’s the dead of winter. It’s when the siege of Jerusalem is remembered. Basically, it’s cold and dark. But as we hit the afternoon of January 18, the mood shifts.
By the time the sun sets, we enter Rosh Chodesh Shevat.
📖 Related: What Does a Stoner Mean? Why the Answer Is Changing in 2026
"Rosh Chodesh" literally means the "Head of the Month." It’s a minor holiday. You won't see people taking off work or closing shops, but in synagogues, there’s a bit of extra celebration. They add special prayers like Hallel (songs of praise) and read from the Torah.
Why the Shift to Shevat Matters
Shevat is the month where things start to "wake up." Honestly, if you live in a place like New York or London, January 18 feels like the absolute peak of "I'm over winter." But the Jewish calendar is already looking at the trees.
Later this month (on the 15th of Shevat), there’s a holiday called Tu BiShvat, which is basically the New Year for Trees. Even though the ground is often frozen solid, the sap is starting to rise inside the trunks. It’s a month of hidden potential.
Historical Deep Dive: What Happened on 29 Tevet?
The Jewish calendar isn't just about dates; it’s a massive archive of survival. Every single day usually has some kind of "yahrzeit" (anniversary of death) or historical miracle attached to it.
On this specific day—29 Tevet—two really specific things stand out in the history books:
👉 See also: Am I Gay Buzzfeed Quizzes and the Quest for Identity Online
- The Miracle of Tripoli (1795): A guy named Ali Burghul had taken over Tripoli and was basically a nightmare for the local Jewish community. He was executed and driven out on exactly this day in 1795. For a long time, the Jews of Tripoli actually celebrated a "Purim Tripoli" today to commemorate being saved.
- The End of Winter? According to the Talmud (Bava Metzia 106b), Rabbi Judah actually classified 29 Tevet as the formal end of the "winter" season in a halakhic (legal) sense. This doesn't mean it’ll be 70 degrees tomorrow, but it marks a spiritual shift in the year's cycle.
Then you have more modern history. One of the most famous Kabbalists of our time, Rabbi Yitzchak Kaduri, passed away on 29 Tevet back in 2006. He was 108 years old. People still travel to his gravesite in Jerusalem on this day to pray.
What You’ll See in the Synagogue Today
If you walked into a morning service today, you’d notice a few tweaks.
Because we are on the eve of a new month, the Tachanun—those are the "confession of sins" prayers where people lean their heads on their arms—is skipped during the afternoon (Mincha) service.
Why? Because you don't do the heavy, "I'm sorry for my sins" stuff when a celebration is about to start. It’s like a pre-game for the new month.
The Torah Portion: Parashat Bo
The weekly cycle is currently in the book of Exodus. Specifically, we are starting the portion known as Bo.
✨ Don't miss: Easy recipes dinner for two: Why you are probably overcomplicating date night
This is the "big guns" section of the Bible. It covers the last three plagues in Egypt: locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn. It’s also where the first commandment ever given to the Jewish people as a nation appears.
Guess what that commandment was?
It was to track the months and set the calendar. Kind of meta, right? On the very day we are switching months, we are reading the story about how the Jewish people were told to start keeping time for themselves as free people.
Actionable Takeaways for January 18, 2026
If you’re trying to live more in sync with this rhythm, you don't have to be a scholar. Here is how to actually use the what is today on jewish calendar info:
- Watch the Sunset: At roughly 5:00 PM to 5:30 PM (depending on your zip code), the energy of the day changes. Use that moment to acknowledge the "New Moon" of Shevat.
- Look for the Sap: Since Shevat is the month of the trees, it’s a great time to start a "rebirth" project. If you’ve been stuck in a winter rut, today is the day the calendar says the "sap is rising."
- Check the Moon: Go outside tonight. You probably won't see much—it’s a new moon. That’s the point. It’s a blank slate.
The Jewish calendar isn't just a list of dates. It's a way of looking at time as a circle rather than a straight line. Today, as 29 Tevet fades into 1 Shevat, is about the transition from the "cold and dark" to the "hidden growth."
To get the most out of this week, focus on the theme of the upcoming month: sustenance. In Hebrew, the word Shevat is related to a staff or a rod—something that supports you.
Start by identifying one thing that's going to support your growth through the rest of this winter. Whether it's a new habit or just a shift in perspective, the calendar says the timing is perfect.