Shabbat in Ashkelon: times, the eruv, shuls and communities

Ashkelon has a long-established, mostly traditional Jewish life, organised by neighbourhood. Here is what the Religious Council and other public sources say.

Candle-lighting times

The Shabbat page on this site uses Hebcal's times for Ashkelon (GeoNames 295620). I found no published local custom from the Religious Council, so it shows 20 minutes before sunset (Hebcal's standard for Israel); for example, Friday 9 October 2026: candle lighting 17:56 and havdalah 18:52. If your shul publishes its own time, follow your shul. You can also add the calendar feed to your phone.

The eruv

The Religious Council says the city eruv covers all neighbourhoods without exception, including Agamim, Ir HaYayin and Ir Yamim, all main and side roads, and the Marina and promenade, but not the sand and the water. Ashkelon National Park has its own eruv, separate from the city's. The eruv is checked every week shortly before Shabbat by council staff, and faults (a torn wire, a fallen pole) can be reported to the council's eruv department.

Synagogues

The council's list has about 155 synagogue entries grouped by neighbourhood (Neve Dekalim, Migdal, Afridar, Ramat Eshkol, Shimshon, Givat Tziyon, Barnea, Neot Ashkelon and the City). It includes heritage communities such as Olei Algeria, Olei India (Magen David), Olei Iran (Bnei Tziyon), Olei Turkey (Beit Yaakov) and an Ethiopian community synagogue. The list is undated and gives no nusach, times or phones, so I list only a selection in the shuls section.

I did not find an English-, French- or Russian-speaking minyan in any reliable source. If you know one, tell me and I will add it.

The historic Tiferet Israel synagogue in western Migdal was founded in 1951 by immigrants from Libya. The council runs an Avot uBanim (fathers and sons) learning programme every Shabbat in dozens of synagogues.

Chabad

Chabad.org lists Chabad houses in Ashkelon at HaAri 9 (Beit Chabad of Ashkelon), Tzahal 6 (Migdal), Ma'ale HaGat 38 (Barnea) and HaYarmuch 5 (Ein Hayam).

Rabbis and community services

The council's Torah Culture department lists four neighbourhood rabbis, including a rabbi for the Ethiopian community, and runs a halachic question service (beit hora'ah). The municipality runs a Haredi community centre and a Haredi library. The council also runs the city's mikvaot; details are on its site and in the directory's low-key mikvah section.

The beach on Shabbat

The eruv does not include the sand or the water. The separate beach has set swimming days for men and for women, published by the municipality.

After Shabbat

Kosher-listed restaurants open on Motzei Shabbat include Nisso HaDayag at the marina (from an hour after Shabbat) and Kulanu (Mahal 1, from 21:30). Their certifier is not stated in the listing, so confirm before you go. More in shopping and kosher food.