Israel Prepares for Yom Kippur 2026 with Fasting Times, Customs, and School Closures

Yom Kippur in 2026 will begin at sunset on Sunday, September 20, and end after nightfall on Monday, September 21. The fast starts at different times depending on the city, for example, in Jerusalem it begins at 18:03 and ends at 19:16, while in Tel Aviv it starts at 18:19 and concludes at 19:18. Other cities such as Haifa, Beersheba, and Ashdod have similar timings for the start and end of the fast.

Schools and kindergartens will be closed on both days of Yom Kippur, with students returning briefly on Tuesday, September 22, before starting the Sukkot holiday break from September 25 to October 3. Classes will resume on Sunday, October 4.

Public transportation on the eve of Yom Kippur will operate on a limited schedule and gradually cease in the early afternoon, resuming on Monday evening after the fast ends. Exact schedules for buses, trains, and other services will be announced closer to the date.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to atonement and forgiveness. Traditions include seeking forgiveness from others before the fast, performing the "kaparot" ritual involving charity money, and the festive pre-fast meal called the "Seudah Mafseket." The fast prohibits eating, drinking, washing, wearing leather shoes, applying oils, and marital relations, with restrictions similar to those on Shabbat.

The day’s prayers include Kol Nidrei at the start, the special "Seder HaAvodah" recounting the High Priest’s entry into the Holy of Holies, and concluding with the Ne'ilah prayer, which ends with the blowing of the shofar and the fast’s conclusion. Throughout the day, worshippers pray to be inscribed for a good and blessed year.