When is Yom Kippur 2025?
Day of Atonement dates, fasting times, and observance guide
Fast Begins (Kol Nidre)
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
at sundown (10 Tishrei 5786)
Fast Ends
Thursday, October 2, 2025
after nightfall (approx. 25 hours)
Key Yom Kippur 2025 Times
Candle Lighting & Fast Begins
Wednesday, October 1 before sundown
Kol Nidre Service
Wednesday evening, October 1
Yizkor Memorial Service
Thursday, October 2 (during morning services)
Ne'ilah & Fast Ends
Thursday evening after nightfall + Shofar blast
About Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a day devoted entirely to prayer, repentance, and seeking forgiveness from God. The 25-hour fast includes abstaining from food, drink, leather shoes, bathing, and other physical pleasures.
The Five Prohibitions
- Eating and drinking - Complete fast for 25 hours
- Bathing - No washing for pleasure
- Anointing - No lotions, creams, or cosmetics
- Wearing leather shoes - Many wear canvas or rubber
- Marital relations
Who Should Fast?
All healthy adults (over Bar/Bat Mitzvah age) are required to fast. Those who are ill, pregnant, nursing, or whose health would be endangered should consult with a rabbi. Preserving life takes precedence over fasting.
Erev Yom Kippur
The day before Yom Kippur (Wednesday, October 1 during the day) is a mitzvah to eat well in preparation for the fast. Many have the custom of eating a festive meal (Seudah Mafseket) before the fast begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fast lasts approximately 25 hours, from before sundown on October 1 until after nightfall on October 2, 2025.
Kol Nidre is the opening prayer service on Yom Kippur eve. Its haunting melody is one of the most recognized in Jewish liturgy.
Many wear white on Yom Kippur, symbolizing purity and the angels. Some men wear a kittel (white robe).