Shabbat Candle Lighting and Havdalah Times – Parashat Devarim | August 1–2, 2025

This Shabbat, as we read Parashat Devarim and prepare for the solemn fast of Tisha B’Av, Jewish communities across the globe usher in a day of rest, introspection, and spiritual preparation. Here are the detailed candle lighting and havdalah times for major cities in the U.S., Israel, and beyond, along with insights into the significance of this special Shabbat.

United States – Shabbat Times

New York City / Brooklyn

• Candle Lighting: Friday, August 1, at 7:53 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday, August 2, at 8:55 PM

Los Angeles, California

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:38 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:36 PM

Chicago, Illinois

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:48 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:52 PM

Miami, Florida

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:46 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:39 PM

Lakewood, NJ

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:52 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:55 PM

Israel – Shabbat Times

Jerusalem

• Candle Lighting: Friday, August 1, at 6:56 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday, August 2, at 8:14 PM

Tel Aviv

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:11 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:16 PM

Haifa

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:04 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:15 PM

Be’er Sheva

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 7:00 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:14 PM

Tzfat (Safed)

• Candle Lighting: Friday at 6:58 PM

• Havdalah: Saturday at 8:16 PM

Parashat Devarim – Moses’ Final Words Before Tisha B’Av

Parashat Devarim marks the beginning of the final book of the Torah. Standing at the threshold of the Promised Land, Moses delivers his final address to the Israelites—a speech that revisits their journey, their failures, and their responsibilities as they prepare to enter the Land of Israel.

This Shabbat is also known as Shabbat Chazon, the “Shabbat of Vision,” named after the opening words of the Haftarah (Isaiah 1:1–27), in which the prophet warns the people of Jerusalem of the impending destruction due to their moral decay. It is the final Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the national day of mourning for the destruction of both Temples.

Spiritual Themes: Vision, Reckoning, and Return

• Shabbat Chazon invites us to reflect deeply on our individual and collective actions.

• Moses’ speech in Devarim emphasizes memory, growth, and the importance of learning from the past.

• As we approach Tisha B’Av (starting this Saturday night), many begin preparing emotionally and spiritually—adjusting their meals, prayers, and mindset in anticipation of the fast.

Shabbat Customs Around the World

• In the Diaspora, communities hold special Friday night meals with divrei Torah centered on Devarim and reflections on Jewish history and exile.

• In Israel, many visit the Kotel (Western Wall) during Shabbat day or immediately after, praying for the rebuilding of the Temple.

• Traditional melodies of Shabbat are often sung with added emotional resonance during this week, as the community braces for the Nine Days’ climax.

Important Halachic Notes

• Candle lighting is typically 18 minutes before sunset, though some communities (especially in Jerusalem) light 30–40 minutes prior.

• Havdalah times listed include a standard delay for “tzeit hakochavim” (nightfall).

• When Tisha B’Av begins on Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night), Havdalah is recited without spices or candle, and the full Havdalah is completed on Sunday night.

Shabbat Devarim is a time to reconnect with our national identity, to recall our shared journey through exile and redemption, and to prepare, both practically and spiritually, for the fast of Tisha B’Av. Whether you light candles in New York, Jerusalem, or anywhere else in the world, this Shabbat holds the potential for profound reflection and inner renewal.

May it be a Shabbat of peace, clarity, and unity.