Shabbat times by city
Every Friday the same question comes up: what time is candle lighting, and when does Shabbat end? The times shift from week to week and from one city to the next, following the sunset. Here you will find Shabbat times for major Jewish communities in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom: candle lighting, the end of Shabbat (Havdalah) and the weeks ahead. Practical guidance, best checked against your own community.
Choose your city
This Shabbat — Friday, 6 November 2026
Paris
🕯️ 17:04 · ✨ 18:11
Marseille
🕯️ 17:06 · ✨ 18:07
Lyon
🕯️ 17:02 · ✨ 18:05
Nice
🕯️ 16:57 · ✨ 17:59
Strasbourg
🕯️ 16:44 · ✨ 17:49
Toulouse
🕯️ 17:21 · ✨ 18:22
Montpellier
🕯️ 17:11 · ✨ 18:12
Bordeaux
🕯️ 17:26 · ✨ 18:29
Sarcelles
🕯️ 17:04 · ✨ 18:10
Creteil
🕯️ 17:04 · ✨ 18:10
Cannes
🕯️ 16:59 · ✨ 18:00
Grenoble
🕯️ 17:00 · ✨ 18:03
Lille
🕯️ 16:57 · ✨ 18:05
Metz
🕯️ 16:48 · ✨ 17:55
Brussels
🕯️ 16:51 · ✨ 17:59
Antwerp
🕯️ 16:50 · ✨ 17:58
Geneva
🕯️ 16:56 · ✨ 18:00
Lausanne
🕯️ 16:53 · ✨ 17:57
Zurich
🕯️ 16:44 · ✨ 17:48
Montreal
🕯️ 16:16 · ✨ 17:19
Toronto
🕯️ 16:44 · ✨ 17:45
Tel Aviv
🕯️ 16:29 · ✨ 17:24
Jerusalem
🕯️ 16:06 · ✨ 17:22
Netanya
🕯️ 16:28 · ✨ 17:23
Ashdod
🕯️ 16:30 · ✨ 17:25
Haifa
🕯️ 16:15 · ✨ 17:22
Ra'anana
🕯️ 16:28 · ✨ 17:23
New York
🕯️ 16:28 · ✨ 17:28
Los Angeles
🕯️ 16:37 · ✨ 17:33
Miami
🕯️ 17:18 · ✨ 18:11
Chicago
🕯️ 16:20 · ✨ 17:21
Boston
🕯️ 16:13 · ✨ 17:14
London
🕯️ 16:07 · ✨ 17:16
Manchester
🕯️ 16:09 · ✨ 17:21
How the times are calculated
Every time starts from sunset, calculated for each city's exact location and shown in local time. Candle lighting is set 18 minutes before sunset, the most widespread custom in France and across the diaspora. Some Israeli cities have their own custom: 30 minutes before sunset in Haifa and 40 minutes in Jerusalem. Shabbat ends with Havdalah at nightfall, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon and three medium-sized stars can be seen. Some communities wait longer before ending Shabbat. The times are therefore a guide: if in doubt, ask your rabbi or your local community.
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is the weekly day of rest in Judaism. It begins at sunset on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday. It is welcomed by lighting candles, followed by Kiddush, the blessing over wine, and the blessing over two challot, the braided loaves on the table. Friday night dinner often brings family and friends together around dishes prepared in advance. Saturday is given over to rest, synagogue, study, shared meals and time together, each according to their own practice. As Shabbat goes out, Havdalah, with wine, fragrant spices and a braided candle, marks the move into the new week.
Shabbat in a relationship
Shabbat says a lot about how someone lives their Judaism. Some keep it fully, some mark it with a family dinner on Friday night, others do not particularly observe it. It helps to talk about it early and simply: what your Friday nights look like, what you would like to pass on, what matters to the other person. Expectations can change over time, but they are always better said out loud. And once things get serious, a first Shabbat dinner with the other's family is often a lovely milestone, worth preparing for together.
Frequently asked questions
Why does candle lighting change every week?
Because it depends on sunset, which moves earlier or later with the seasons. It also varies between cities with latitude, longitude and time zone, which is why each city has its own times.
Why 18 minutes before sunset?
Lighting a little before sunset means Shabbat is welcomed without any risk of starting late. Eighteen minutes is the most common custom in France and the diaspora; in Jerusalem the local custom is 40 minutes, in Haifa 30 minutes.
When does Shabbat end?
At nightfall, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon and three medium-sized stars are visible. Some communities wait longer before Havdalah, so follow the custom of your own.
Are these the same times as my synagogue's?
They are usually very close, but every community can have its own customs. The times shown here are a guide: if in doubt, go by your rabbi or your local community.
Share Shabbat with someone special
On MeetJudaic, Shabbat is covered in the quiz and shown on profiles, so you know straight away how the other person observes it. Free to join, no subscription.