Shabbat Times in Sydney

Sydney gives Shabbat a southern-hemisphere rhythm: midsummer falls in December and midwinter in July, so the seasons run opposite to cities like New York and Jerusalem. Our free calculator below is preset to Sydney, so you can check this week’s candle-lighting time, sunset, Havdalah, and Torah portion in seconds. Times follow Australian Eastern Time, with the daylight-saving switch handled automatically.

Candle Lighting in Sydney

Candle lighting in Sydney is 18 minutes before astronomical sunset, the standard Diaspora custom. Because the seasons are inverted, the range runs the other way too: sunset is about 8:03 PM in late December and about 4:53 PM in late June. Candle lighting therefore falls near 7:45 PM on the darkest midsummer Fridays in December and near 4:35 PM in midwinter.

New South Wales observes daylight saving time, moving clocks forward in early October and back in early April. The calculator applies the correct offset automatically for any date you enter.

Havdalah in Sydney

Havdalah in Sydney is recited after nightfall, when three medium stars are visible. The default nightfall standard in the calculator is 8.5 degrees, and communities that follow 42, 50, or 72 minutes after sunset can select their custom in the settings.

Shabbat Times for Nearby Communities

Times across greater Sydney differ by only a few minutes. Nearby options include Canberra and Newcastle. For the other major Australian guide, see Shabbat times in Melbourne. You can also check any city worldwide on the main Shabbat candle-lighting times tool.

Planning Around Shabbat in Sydney

December Fridays are bright and social, with lighting near 7:45 PM and long summer evenings at the beach afterward, while June Fridays move candle lighting close to 4:35 PM. Synagogues in Bondi, the Eastern Suburbs, and St Ives hold Kabbalat Shabbat services at various times, so confirm with your own congregation. To convert a Hebrew date for a simcha or a yahrzeit, see our Hebrew date converter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is candle lighting in Sydney this Friday?

Use the calculator on this page for this week’s exact times. In late December, candle lighting in Sydney is near 7:45 PM, and in late June it is near 4:35 PM.

Why are Sydney’s Shabbat times opposite to New York’s?

Sydney is in the southern hemisphere, so its longest days come in December and its shortest in June. New York has the opposite pattern, which is why summer Shabbatot are long in one city and short in the other.

When does Sydney change its clocks?

Sydney moves to daylight saving in early October and back to standard time in early April, the reverse of the March and November dates used in North America. The calculator handles these transitions automatically.