What are zmanim?
Zmanim (Hebrew for "times") are the halachic times of the Jewish day — calculated from the position of the sun — that determine when various mitzvot and prayers can or must be done. They include sunrise and sunset, the deadlines for the morning Shema and prayers, midday, candle-lighting before Shabbat, and nightfall. Because they depend on the sun, zmanim vary by location and by the day of the year. They're the timekeeping backbone of Jewish daily practice.
What are some common zmanim?
- Alot HaShachar / Netz — dawn and sunrise.
- Sof Zman Shema / Tefillah — the latest times to recite the morning Shema and prayers.
- Chatzot — midday (and midnight).
- Shkiah / Tzeit HaKochavim — sunset and nightfall (when three stars appear).
- Candle-lighting — typically a set time before sunset on Friday for Shabbat.
Why do zmanim change by place and date?
Because they're tied to the sun, the times shift with your latitude and longitude and with the season — sunset in summer is far later than in winter, and differs between cities. That's why zmanim are always calculated for a specific location and day, rather than being fixed clock times.
In short: zmanim are the sun-based halachic times of the Jewish day — sunrise, prayer deadlines, candle-lighting, nightfall — which vary by place and date.
Keep Jewish time with Derekh Learning
Derekh includes zmanim and candle-lighting times alongside its daily learning, in a voice that fits you. Start learning or read the Hebrew calendar explained.
