Yom Kippur 2026 in Jerusalem

For visitors and tourists, this is a rare opportunity to experience Jerusalem in a moment of absolute quiet, to join the crowds walking the streets, and to absorb the holiness of the city.

This year, Yom Kippur (5787) begins on the eve of Sunday, September 20, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Monday, September 21, 2026.

In the days before Yom Kippur, all of Jerusalem prepares for the holiest day of the year. One of the most fascinating and unique sights of this period is the Kapparot custom. To experience this tradition up close and absorb the atmosphere, it is recommended to wander the neighborhoods in the days before the holiday, such as Mea Shearim, Geula, and around the Mahane Yehuda Market, especially in the evening hours, when the spiritual preparations reach their peak.

With the onset of the fast (on Sunday, September 20, 2026), the city undergoes a complete transformation. The main streets are emptied of vehicles, and many Jerusalemites don their white clothes and walk on foot along the open roads. It is a powerful experience to go out for a walk in this unique quiet and wander among the alleys of the old neighborhoods such as Nachlaot or the Haredi neighborhoods. From every direction, the sounds of prayer rise from hundreds of synagogues, small and large, enveloping the city in a holy atmosphere.

The main attraction during the holiday is of course the Western Wall, which draws worshippers from across the country and the world. Already on the eve of Yom Kippur, ahead of the "Kol Nidrei" prayer that opens the fast, the Western Wall Plaza fills with masses of people. The prayers continue throughout the day, but the peak moment that brings enormous excitement is the "Neila" prayer, the service that closes the fast. With the end of the prayer, the great blast of the shofar is heard, proclaiming the end of the holiday (on Monday, September 21), an event that draws thousands and creates a truly unique atmosphere.

For those looking for a more unique and formal prayer experience, it is recommended to reserve a seat in advance at the great synagogues of Jerusalem that offer festive prayers for the High Holy Days:

• The Great Synagogue: holds annual holiday prayers in a festive and impressive atmosphere.
  Registration to purchase seating for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers has officially opened. You can register in advance easily on the TickChak website >>
  for more details >>
• The Yeshurun Central Synagogue (King George 44): an uplifting prayer experience for the High Holy Days between the dates 11-22.09.26. The prayers will be led by chief cantor Yitzhak Meir Helfgot and cantor Avraham Bernholtz, accompanied by a choir conducted by Moshe Slutzky.
  Advance registration is required here >>
  for more details >>

The days and nights before Yom Kippur (the Ten Days of Repentance) are the peak of the Selichot season. If you are coming to the city before the holiday begins, this is the opportunity to join experiential Selichot tours that will introduce you to the Old City and its hidden alleys in an intimate and unique atmosphere.

Want to connect with Sephardic Selichot piyyutim, including songs in Ladino? Interested in experiencing Selichot through the stories of Jerusalem's Sephardic families? Join tour guide Dudi Bar Sela for a unique Selichot tour!

for more details >>

During the month of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jewish communities would gather to recite together a variety of verses, prayers, and piyyutim, which carry themes of expressing regret, lament over the destruction, and prayer for redemption.

During the month of Elul, the sounds of prayer and Selichot rise from synagogues and courtyards throughout the Jerusalem neighborhoods and especially the Haredi neighborhoods, and this is the time to experience and absorb this special atmosphere that surrounds the city only once a year.

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Want to experience a moving Selichot experience in a special neighborhood? Want to get to know the world of Selichot and piyyutim of Bukharan Jews? Feel like singing many piyyutim and hearing the shofar blast? You are invited to the "Bukharan Selichot" in the Bukharim neighborhood and surroundings!

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Yom Kippur may be the spiritual peak of the month of Tishrei, but the holiday season in Jerusalem certainly does not end here. Immediately after the fast ends, the city changes its atmosphere and begins preparing for the holiday of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, a period when Jerusalem fills with colorful sukkahs, festivals, events, and activities for the whole family:

Sukkot in Jerusalem: the complete guide >>
The guide to family attractions >>
Events in Jerusalem >>