Timing is everything. If you’re scrambling to figure out the Yom Kippur start time, you aren't just looking for a number on a clock; you’re looking for a sunset. It’s tricky. Unlike a typical holiday that starts at midnight, Jewish holidays operate on a lunar-solar calendar where the day begins when the sun goes down.
Honestly, it catches people off guard every single year.
You might think you have until 7:00 PM to finish that last sip of water or bite of bagel, but depending on where you live, the fast could actually begin much earlier. In the Jewish tradition, we call this Tosefet Yom Kippur. It basically means "adding to the holiness," where you start the fast a bit before the sun actually disappears to make sure you don't accidentally violate the Sabbath of Sabbaths.
When Does the Fast Actually Kick Off?
The Yom Kippur start time is tied to candle lighting.
Specifically, the fast begins about 18 to 20 minutes before sunset. This isn't just a suggestion. For those observing strictly, once those candles are lit, the "prohibitions" begin. No eating. No drinking. No leather shoes. No washing. It’s a hard stop. Because the sun sets at different times in New York than it does in Los Angeles or London, the timing is hyper-local. In 2025, for example, Yom Kippur (which begins on the evening of October 1st) will see candle lighting in New York around 6:17 PM, while in Miami, it’s closer to 6:51 PM.
Wait.
Why the 18-minute buffer?
Historically, rabbis wanted to create a "fence" around the law. If you wait until the very second the sun hits the horizon, you risk being late. Mistakes happen. Watches are wrong. So, the 18-minute rule became the standard across most of the Jewish world, though some communities in Jerusalem actually observe a 40-minute buffer. Imagine that—nearly an hour of extra fasting just to be safe.
The Science of the Sunset (And Why Your Phone Might Be Wrong)
You’ve probably looked at your iPhone weather app and seen "Sunset: 6:34 PM."
Don't trust it for the fast.
Standard weather apps calculate sunset when the top edge of the sun disappears below the horizon. However, Jewish law (Halakha) has various definitions of what constitutes "nightfall." You have Shkiya (sunset) and Tzeit HaKochabim (when three medium-sized stars appear). The period between these two is a bit of a "gray zone" called Bein HaShemashot.
📖 Related: Why the 3 Dots and a Dash Recipe Still Defines Modern Tiki Culture
Since Yom Kippur is a biblical commandment, we treat this gray zone with extreme caution. We act as if the day has already begun. This is why the Yom Kippur start time is always the sunset time minus that buffer. If you wait until the weather app says it's sunset, you’ve technically already missed the start of the holiday.
The "Pre-Game" Meal: Seudah Mafseket
You can’t talk about the start time without talking about the meal that happens right before it.
It’s called the Seudah Mafseket, the "Concluding Meal."
There is a weirdly beautiful irony here: the Talmud actually says that it is a mitzvah (a good deed) to eat a large meal on the eve of Yom Kippur, almost as important as fasting on the day itself. But here is the kicker—you have to be completely finished eating by the candle lighting time.
If the Yom Kippur start time is 6:15 PM, you should probably be sitting down at 5:00 PM.
If you’re still chewing at 6:16 PM, you’ve technically started the fast on the wrong foot. Most people go for round, easy-to-digest foods. Think chicken soup, challah, and maybe some rice. Avoid the spicy stuff. Trust me. Spicy salsa at 6:00 PM leads to a very long, thirsty 25 hours.
Time Zones and Travel Complications
What happens if you are in the air?
This is a nightmare for frequent flyers. If you are flying from London to New York on the eve of the holiday, your "sunset" is moving with you. Generally, the rule of thumb is that you follow the sunset of the location you are currently in. If you are on a plane, you look out the window. When the sun goes down for the plane, the fast starts.
This leads to some wild scenarios where a flight path could technically shorten or lengthen your fast by hours. Most rabbis suggest avoiding travel on the eve of the fast specifically because of this confusion. You don't want to be doing math equations at 30,000 feet trying to figure out if you're allowed to drink your ginger ale.
Common Misconceptions About the Start Time
I see this every year on social media. Someone posts "Happy Yom Kippur!" at 9:00 AM on the day of.
By then, the fast is half over for some.
- Misconception 1: It starts at midnight. Nope. Never.
- Misconception 2: It starts when the stars come out. That’s when it ends. It starts before the sun goes down.
- Misconception 3: You can finish your water after the candles are lit. Once the candles are lit, the kitchen is closed.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks once noted that the transition into Yom Kippur is supposed to be a shift in state of being. We move from being physical creatures who eat and drink to being "like angels." Angels don't have biological clocks, but we do. The strictness of the Yom Kippur start time helps facilitate that mental shift. It’s a boundary.
✨ Don't miss: Free Word Search Puzzle for Adults: Why Your Brain Actually Needs Them
How to Prepare for the Final Countdown
If you want to handle the start of the fast like a pro, you need a timeline.
Two days before: Start pounding water. Seriously. Hydration isn't a 10-minute event. You need to saturate your cells.
24 hours before: Cut the caffeine. The worst part of the fast isn't the hunger; it’s the caffeine withdrawal headache. If you stop coffee cold turkey at the Yom Kippur start time, you will be miserable by noon the next day. Scale it back early.
The afternoon of: Most Jewish businesses close early. Around 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM, the vibe changes. People start rushing. There’s a frantic energy. You want to be showered and dressed in your white clothing (symbolizing purity) at least 30 minutes before the candles are lit.
5 minutes before: This is the time for the "Blessing of the Children." It’s a heavy, emotional moment where parents put their hands on their kids' heads and give them a traditional blessing. It happens right before the mother lights the candles.
Once those matches are struck and the blessing is said, that’s it.
The world goes quiet.
Actionable Steps for a Smooth Start
To make sure you don't miss the window, follow these specific steps:
- Check a reliable Halakhic site: Use Chabad.org or Ou.org. They have ZIP code locators that give you the exact minute for candle lighting in your specific town. Do not rely on general "sunset" times from Google's main search page.
- Set an alarm for 30 minutes before: Give yourself a "final call" for water.
- Hydrate with electrolytes: Plain water is fine, but something with salts will help you retain that moisture through the next day.
- Prepare your shoes: Since leather is prohibited, make sure your canvas sneakers or Crocs are by the door. You don't want to be hunting for them after the fast has already begun.
- The "Last Sip" Ritual: Make it a point to have your last drink of water one minute before the candle lighting time. It’s a psychological marker that the "angel mode" has begun.
The beauty of the Yom Kippur start time is that it is a collective pause. Millions of people around the globe are putting down their forks at the exact same relative moment. It’s a synchronized entry into silence. Just make sure your watch is set correctly.
Next Steps for Observance:
- Locate your specific ZIP code's candle lighting time at least 24 hours in advance.
- Plan your Seudah Mafseket menu to exclude high-sodium foods that cause thirst.
- Download or print the Kol Nidre prayers before the fast begins, as using electronics is prohibited once the sun goes down.
- Prepare your "Yahrzeit" candle (memorial candle) if you have the custom of lighting one for deceased relatives; this must be lit before the holiday candles.