Shabbat Times in Taipei

Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, begins at sunset on Friday and ends after nightfall on Saturday. In Taipei, candle lighting is performed 18 minutes before sunset, following local communal custom. Havdalah, the ceremony that concludes Shabbat, is recited after nightfall (tzait haKochavim, when three medium-sized stars are visible). We display the 72-minute opinion by default; the 8.5° (GRA) opinion corresponds to approximately 36 minutes after sunset at equinox, and 16.1° (Rabbeinu Tam) to approximately 72 minutes.

The weekly Torah portion (Parashat HaShavua) this week is Bereshis, read in synagogues across Taipei on Shabbat morning.

The blessing recited when lighting Shabbat candles (Hadlakat Nerot) is one of the most cherished rituals welcoming the Sabbath. It is traditionally recited after lighting the candles, waving the hands over the flames in a welcoming gesture, and covering the eyes — so that the blessing precedes the act of enjoying the light.

In Taipei, candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset — at 17:15 this week. The minimum is one candle, though many families light two (representing “Shamor” and “Zachor”, the two words used in the Torah to command Shabbat observance), and some add a candle for each member of the household. Source: Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 263.

Chabad Taipei, located in the Da'an District, serves the city's Jewish population — diplomats, tech professionals, students, and travelers — with Shabbat services and meals, holiday events, and kosher food arranged in advance. The community is small but steady, and visitors are a regular part of every Shabbat table.

There is no other permanent synagogue in the city; travelers report a welcoming, family-style atmosphere. Candle lighting follows the 18-minute custom.

• Chabad Taipei (Da'an District) — Shabbat services and meals
• Kosher food arranged with advance notice
• Small, steady community used to welcoming visitors
• Candle-lighting offset: 18 minutes before sunset

Planning a Shabbat in Taipei? Check the full-year Shabbat schedule for Taipei and the daily Zmanim. Community details above reflect publicly listed centers and may change — contact the centers directly for current schedules and kosher arrangements.