Fast of Gedalia 2026: Observance Times Across Israel

The Fast of Gedalia, observed on the third day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, one day after Rosh Hashanah, commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah ben Ahikam. He had been appointed governor of the remaining Jewish population in the land by the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar II, following the destruction of the First Temple.

Also known as the "Seventh Fast," it is one of the four fasts of destruction. This fast symbolizes the end of a process that began with the Temple's destruction. After Gedaliah's murder, no vestige of Jewish rule remained in the land, and most survivors fled to Egypt.

The article provides the specific times for the commencement and conclusion of the fast in major Israeli cities. In Jerusalem, the fast begins at 5:10 AM and ends at 7:10 PM. In Tel Aviv, it starts at 5:12 AM and concludes at 7:08 PM. In Haifa, the fast commences at 5:10 AM and ends at 7:10 PM. In Be'er Sheva, it begins at 5:12 AM and ends at 7:10 PM. In Tiberias, the fast starts at 5:08 AM and ends at 7:08 PM. In Safed, it begins at 5:08 AM and concludes at 7:10 PM. In Eilat, the fast commences at 5:12 AM and ends at 7:06 PM.