Shabbat Candle-Lighting Times in Boston
Shabbat and holiday candle-lighting and Havdalah times for Boston.
Enter your ZIP code to see the times for your town.
Jewish holidays and observances
The year ahead
Every Jewish holiday begins at sundown and ends at nightfall. Dates show the evening a holiday begins through its last day. November 2026 – October 2027.
November 2026
Cheshvan – Kislev 5787
Nov 8–9
Sun – Mon
An Ethiopian Jewish holiday celebrating covenant, renewal and connection to Jerusalem
December 2026
Kislev – Tevet 5787
Dec 4–12
Fri – Sat
The eight-night Festival of Lights
Hanukkah begins · 1st candle Fri, Dec 4, before Shabbat candle-lighting (3:53 PM)
8th candle Fri, Dec 11 · Ends Sat, Dec 12 at nightfall
Dec 9–10
Wed – Thu
Chag HaBanot
30 Kislev 5787
Festival of Daughters, a North African Jewish celebration honoring women and girls during Hanukkah
Dec 20
Sun
Asara B’Tevet
10 Tevet 5787
Fast marking the siege of Jerusalem
Fast begins · Sun, Dec 20, 5:39 AM
Fast ends · 4:53 PM
January 2027
Tevet – Sh’vat 5787
Jan 22–23
Fri – Sat
The New Year of the Trees
Begins with Shabbat · Candle-lighting 4:27 PM
February 2027
Sh’vat – Adar I 5787
Feb 1–28
All month
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month
About Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion MonthPromoting disability awareness, acceptance and inclusion in Jewish life
Feb 20–21
Sat – Sun
Purim Katan
14 Adar I 5787
“Little Purim,” a minor celebration during Jewish leap years
Begins at nightfall Sat, Feb 20
Feb 21–22
Sun – Mon
Shushan Purim Katan
15 Adar I 5787
“Little Shushan Purim,” a minor observance during Jewish leap years
March 2027
Adar I – Adar II 5787
March 22
Mon
Ta’anit Esther
13 Adar II 5787
Fast commemorating Esther’s call for fasting before Purim
Fast begins · Mon, March 22, 5:21 AM
Fast ends · 7:33 PM
March 23–24
Tue – Wed
Shushan Purim
15 Adar II 5787
Purim celebrated in Jerusalem and other historically walled cities
April 2027
Adar II – Nisan 5787
April 16–17
Fri – Sat
Yom HaAliyah
10 Nisan 5787
Celebrating Jewish immigration to Israel
Begins with Shabbat · Candle-lighting 7:08 PM
April 21
Wed
Ta’anit Bechorot
14 Nisan 5787
Fast of the firstborn before Passover
Fast begins · Wed, April 21, 4:23 AM
Finish eating chametz (leavened food) by 10:27 AM
April 21–29
Wed – Thu
The festival of freedom and the Exodus from Egypt
Passover begins · Candle-lighting Wed, April 21, 7:14 PM
Second night · Candle-lighting after Thu, April 22, 8:18 PM
Seventh night · Candle-lighting Tue, April 27, 7:21 PM
Eighth night · Candle-lighting after Wed, April 28, 8:26 PM
Holiday ends · Havdalah Thu, April 29, 8:27 PM
May 2027
Nisan – Iyyar 5787
May 1–31
All month
Jewish American Heritage Month
About Jewish American Heritage MonthCelebrating Jewish American history, culture and contributions to American society
May 20–21
Thu – Fri
Pesach Sheni
14 Iyyar 5787
The “Second Passover,” a day of second chances
May 24–25
Mon – Tue
A festive day of bonfires and celebrations during the counting of the Omer
June 2027
Iyyar – Sivan 5787
June 3–4
Thu – Fri
Yom Yerushalayim
28 Iyyar 5787
Jerusalem Day, marking its reunification in 1967
June 10–12
Thu – Sat
Celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai
Shavuot begins · Candle-lighting Thu, June 10, 8:02 PM
Second night & Shabbat · Candle-lighting Fri, June 11, 8:03 PM
Holiday ends · Havdalah Sat, June 12, 9:14 PM
July 2027
Sivan – Tammuz 5787
July 22
Thu
Shiva Asar B’Tammuz
17 Tammuz 5787
Fast marking the breach of Jerusalem’s walls
Fast begins · Thu, July 22, 3:41 AM
Fast ends · 8:54 PM
August 2027
Tammuz – Av 5787
Aug 11–12
Wed – Thu
A day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples
Fast begins · Wed, Aug 11, 7:51 PM
Fast ends · Thu, Aug 12, 8:23 PM
September 2027
Av – Elul 5787
Sept 2–3
Thu – Fri
Rosh Hashanah LaBehemot
1 Elul 5787
The New Year for Animals
Sept 25
Sat
Selichot
23 Elul 5787
First night of Selichot prayers
Sat, Sept 25, after Havdalah (7:18 PM)
October 2027
Elul 5787 – Tishrei 5788
Oct 1–3
Fri – Sun
The Jewish New Year
Rosh Hashanah & Shabbat begin · Candle-lighting Fri, Oct 1, 6:08 PM
Second night · Candle-lighting after Sat, Oct 2, 7:06 PM
Holiday ends · Havdalah Sun, Oct 3, 7:04 PM
Oct 4
Mon
Tzom Gedaliah
3 Tishrei 5788
Fast commemorating the assassination of Gedaliah, governor of Judah
Fast begins · Mon, Oct 4, 5:21 AM
Fast ends · 6:55 PM
Oct 10–11
Sun – Mon
The Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and prayer
Yom Kippur begins · Candle-lighting Sun, Oct 10, 5:52 PM
Holiday ends · Havdalah Mon, Oct 11, 6:51 PM
Oct 15–22
Fri – Fri
Harvest festival celebrated in temporary outdoor shelters called sukkahs
Sukkot & Shabbat begin · Candle-lighting Fri, Oct 15, 5:44 PM
Second night · Candle-lighting after Sat, Oct 16, 6:43 PM
Oct 22–23
Fri – Sat
Holiday following Sukkot, marked by prayers for rain
Shemini Atzeret & Shabbat begin · Candle-lighting Fri, Oct 22, 5:33 PM
Oct 23–24
Sat – Sun
Celebrating the completion and beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle
Simchat Torah begins · Candle-lighting after Sat, Oct 23, 6:33 PM
Holiday ends · Havdalah Sun, Oct 24, 6:31 PM
Oct 24–25
Sun – Mon
Swords of Iron War Memorial Day
24 Tishrei 5788
Israeli national day of remembrance honoring the victims of the October 7, 2023, attacks and those killed in the ensuing war
Shabbat & Holiday Guides
Q&A
Shabbat & holiday questions
What time does Shabbat start in Boston this week, and when should I light candles?
This week, Shabbat begins on Friday, November 6, at sundown. Candle-lighting time in Boston is 4:13 PM, 18 minutes before sunset, following the common custom. Enter your ZIP code above to see the times for your town.
What time does Shabbat end in Boston?
This week, Shabbat ends on Saturday, November 7, at 5:14 PM in Boston, at nightfall, when three stars are visible in the sky. Some communities wait a little longer before ending Shabbat, so check with your local synagogue if you follow a specific custom.
What time is Havdalah in Boston?
Havdalah, the ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat, can be recited once Shabbat ends. This week in Boston, that’s Saturday, November 7, at 5:14 PM.
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest, observed every week from sundown on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. It’s a time to pause from the busy week, share meals with family and friends, and reflect. People celebrate it in many ways, from lighting candles and having a festive Friday night dinner to attending services or simply slowing down.
What is Havdalah?
Havdalah, meaning “separation,” is a short ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and the start of the new week. It includes blessings over a cup of wine or grape juice, fragrant spices and a braided candle with several wicks.
How do I light Shabbat candles?
It’s customary to light two candles on Friday before sunset, although some families light more. Many people then wave their hands over the flames three times, cover their eyes and recite the blessing:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy through Your commandments and commands us to light the Shabbat candles.
Many families add a moment of quiet reflection or a personal wish for the week ahead.
Where do these Shabbat times come from?
The times on this page come from Hebcal.com, a trusted Jewish calendar service. Candle-lighting times are calculated 18 minutes before sunset, and Shabbat ends at nightfall, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon. Local customs vary, so your synagogue may follow slightly different times.
How can I celebrate Shabbat in Boston?
There are many ways to celebrate Shabbat in Greater Boston, from attending Friday night services and community dinners to participating in family-friendly activities and gatherings. Explore JewishBoston’s Shabbat resources to find local events, traditions, recipes and more to help you make Shabbat your own.
Where can I buy Shabbat candles in Boston?
You can find Shabbat candles at local Judaica shops, including Israel Book Shop and Kolbo Fine Judaica in Brookline and Shuki’s Judaica in Framingham. Kosher supermarkets like The Butcherie in Brookline and Zayde’s Market in Canton also sell candles. Many supermarkets with large kosher sections, particularly in Newton, Brookline and Sharon, may carry them as well. You can also order Shabbat candles online from Judaica shops and major retailers. Availability varies by store.
What are some common Shabbat traditions?
Shabbat traditions often include lighting candles, sharing a Friday night meal, reciting Kiddush (the blessing over wine or grape juice) and HaMotzi (the blessing over challah or bread). Families and communities observe Shabbat in different ways, creating meaningful traditions of their own.
Shabbat and holiday times courtesy of Hebcal.com, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).