Shabbat Times in Jerusalem

Jerusalem keeps a unique Shabbat custom: candles are lit 40 minutes before sunset, earlier than almost anywhere else. The calculator below is preset to Jerusalem with that custom applied automatically, showing this week’s candle-lighting time, sunset, Havdalah, and Torah portion under the Israel reading schedule.

The Jerusalem 40-Minute Custom

Across the Diaspora, the prevailing custom is to light candles 18 minutes before sunset. In Jerusalem, the long-standing minhag is 40 minutes before sunset. When you select Jerusalem, the calculator automatically selects the 40-minute offset, and you can adjust it if your community follows a different custom.

The custom reflects the city’s elevation, hills, and historic stringency. Whatever its origin, it is a living practice: on a midwinter Friday in Jerusalem, candles are lit near 4:10 PM.

Israel Time and Seasons

Jerusalem observes Israel Standard Time (UTC+2) and Israel daylight saving time (UTC+3), with the clock changeover set by law so that Shabbat falls after the switch each season. Sunset ranges from about 4:42 PM in December to about 7:47 PM in late June. The calculator applies the correct offset every week.

Havdalah in Jerusalem

Havdalah follows nightfall in Jerusalem, calculated by default at the 8.5-degree standard. Communities following other customs can select the 42, 50, or 72-minute options.

Shabbat Times for Nearby Communities

Times across Israel differ by only a few minutes. Check Tel Aviv, Haifa, or any city worldwide on the main Shabbat candle-lighting times tool.

Planning Around Shabbat in Jerusalem

In Jerusalem, public transport largely pauses for Shabbat, and the city quiets from Friday afternoon until Havdalah. Holiday durations and Torah readings also differ from the Diaspora, as explained in our Jewish calendar guide. For dates and anniversaries, see the Hebrew date converter and the Jewish holidays calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Jerusalem light candles 40 minutes before sunset?

Jerusalem keeps a longstanding local custom of lighting 40 minutes before sunset, a larger buffer than the 20 minutes used in most of Israel. Most communities in the city follow it, and the calculator applies it automatically whenever Jerusalem is selected.

What time is candle lighting in Jerusalem this Friday?

Use the calculator on this page for this week’s exact times. In late December, candle lighting in Jerusalem is near 3:58 PM, and in late June it is near 7:06 PM.

Do Jerusalem holidays follow the Israel calendar?

Yes. The calculator’s Israel region setting follows the Israeli holiday schedule, where the second day of festivals is not observed. Select Diaspora outside Israel to see the schedule kept abroad.