The Anglo Dad's Guide to the Chagim With Kids in Israel 2026
Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah with kids in Israel — key 2026 dates, family tips, closures, activities and practical advice for Anglo parents navigating Tishrei.
September in Israel can be confusing for newly arrived Anglo parents. The kids have barely gone back to school and suddenly WhatsApp groups are talking about Erev Chag, supermarkets are closing early, work schedules change, public transport disappears and you realise there is another stretch of school holiday coming. Welcome to Tishrei. For families, the Chagim can be one of the best times of the year in Israel — provided you know what is happening.
When are the Chagim in Israel in 2026?
The main Tishrei holiday dates are:
- Rosh Hashanah: begins Friday evening, 11 September and ends Sunday night, 13 September
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- Yom Kippur: begins Sunday evening, 20 September and ends Monday night, 21 September.
- Sukkot: begins Friday evening, 25 September. Chol HaMoed runs through the following week, with Hoshana Rabbah on Friday 2 October.
- Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah in Israel: Saturday 3 October. Israel observes Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret together, rather than on two separate days as is customary in many Diaspora communities. For parents, the important lesson is simple: check your school, nursery and work calendar now rather than assuming normal weekday routines apply. The Ministry of Education publishes the official school calendar for the 2026–27 academic year, and individual childcare settings may operate slightly differently. Israel Ministry of Education school calendar
Rosh Hashanah with kids Rosh Hashanah is probably the easiest of the major Chagim to turn into a family celebration. Apples, honey, pomegranates, shofar blowing and family meals give even very young children something tangible to associate with the festival. In 2026, however, the first day falls on
Shabbat, 12 September, meaning families should prepare carefully for both the holiday and Shabbat. If you're travelling for a family meal, check timings in advance and remember that public transport and many businesses will stop operating before the holiday begins. For kids, simple activities work well:
- Make Rosh Hashanah cards for grandparents.
- Visit a honey or bee-themed attraction.
- Bake honey cake together.
- Create an apple-tasting challenge.
- Find somewhere local to hear the shofar. There are also organised family events around Israel. For example, the Valley Museum at Kibbutz Yifat has announced Rosh Hashanah family activities for 12–13 September, including a bee-themed workshop, beeswax candle making and children's activities. Keep an eye on our Events & What's On page for family-friendly Rosh Hashanah activities happening near you this year. We also have a full Rosh Hashanah With Kids in Israel 2026 guide with more ideas.
Yom Kippur with children Yom Kippur in Israel is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. As the fast begins, traffic largely disappears and roads fill with pedestrians, bikes and scooters.
For children, it can look like one enormous car-free day. That doesn't mean the roads are completely safe. Israel's Ministry of Health specifically warns parents that there is no law prohibiting motor vehicles from driving on Yom Kippur. Ambulances, police vehicles and other cars can still use the roads. Children under nine should be accompanied by an adult, helmets should be worn, and families are advised to ride only in urban areas rather than venturing onto intercity roads. If your children want to cycle, check tyres, brakes, lights and helmets before the holiday begins — because discovering a flat tyre once every shop has closed is a very Israeli parenting experience you only need once. For more, see our full Yom Kippur With Kids in Israel guide.
Sukkot: the big family holiday From a parenting perspective,
Sukkot is where things get busy. During Chol HaMoed, attractions across Israel traditionally run special programmes, workshops, festivals and family events. In 2026 these include programmes from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, KKL-JNF, museums, heritage attractions and the National Library of Israel. This means two things. First: there is loads to do. Second: so is everyone else. Popular national parks, museums and attractions can become extremely busy. If tickets or registration are available in advance, book them. Good Sukkot options include:
- National parks and nature reserves
- Archaeological sites
- Museums
- Forest walks
- Heritage attractions
- Children's theatre
- Harvest activities
- Sukkah workshops
- Municipal festivals See our full Sukkot 2026 With Kids in Israel guide for the complete list, and check our Events & What's On page for this year's Chol HaMoed programming.
Build your own sukkah
For families living in Israel, building a sukkah is also one of the easiest ways to make the Chagim feel exciting rather than simply disruptive. It doesn't need to be an architectural masterpiece. A small balcony sukkah, garden sukkah or shared building sukkah can become a week-long family base for breakfasts, dinners, colouring, games and having friends over. Let the kids take ownership of the decorating. Paper chains may not impress an interior designer, but they can keep a five-year-old occupied for considerably longer than another trip to the toy shop. Safety matters, particularly with lighting, candles, electrical cables and children climbing ladders. Israel's Ministry of Health recommends keeping sukkot away from electrical equipment and gas cylinders, using outdoor-rated electrical equipment where necessary, keeping exits clear and supervising children closely during construction and decorating. See our full Build a Sukkah With the Kids guide for a complete step-by-step walkthrough.
Shops, transport and opening hours
One of the biggest mistakes Anglo newcomers make is assuming Google opening hours will be accurate during the Chagim. They frequently aren't. Before making a journey:
- Check the business's own website.
- Check its Facebook or Instagram page.
- Call if necessary.
- Check public transport separately. For buses and public transport, Israel's official journey planner provides current route information. Israel Public Transport Journey Planner Holiday eves generally mean reduced services, while Yom Kippur brings almost the entire public transport network to a halt. Do not plan your holiday around normal weekday timetables.
Don't try to fill every day
The temptation during school holidays is to book something every day. You don't need to. A morning in the park, building the sukkah, visiting cousins, cycling locally or having friends over can be as memorable as another paid attraction. A useful formula is: **one big outing
- one easy local day
- one home day.** Repeat. Your wallet will thank you too.
Quick Chagim checklist for dads
Before the holidays:
- Confirm school and nursery closure dates.
- Check work arrangements.
- Book major Sukkot attractions early.
- Service bikes and scooters before Yom Kippur.
- Buy helmets if required.
- Order or buy sukkah equipment early.
- Check supermarket holiday hours.
- Fill prescriptions before closures.
- Plan transport before each Chag.
- Keep one or two completely unplanned days.
Related Anglo Dads Guides
- Rosh Hashanah With Kids in Israel 2026
- Yom Kippur With Kids in Israel
- Sukkot 2026 With Kids in Israel
- Build a Sukkah With the Kids
- What to Do With Kids on Shabbat
- Events & What's On
Frequently asked questions
When is Rosh Hashanah 2026 in Israel? Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on
Friday 11 September and ends after nightfall on Sunday 13 September 2026.
When is Yom Kippur 2026? Yom Kippur begins
Sunday evening, 20 September and ends Monday evening, 21 September 2026.
When is Sukkot 2026 in Israel? Sukkot begins
Friday evening, 25 September. Hoshana Rabbah falls on Friday 2 October.
Is public transport available on Yom Kippur? Normal public transport effectively stops for Yom Kippur. Always check official transport information before travelling.
Are attractions open during Chol HaMoed Sukkot?
Many are — and some run their biggest family programmes of the year. Advance booking is strongly recommended.
Where can I find family activities for the Chagim? Keep checking our Events & What's On
page. We'll be adding family events, days out and practical Chagim information throughout the holiday period. Because dad life in Israel doesn't come with a manual — especially during Tishrei.
