Beit Shemesh has no single city-wide holiday calendar in English, but the municipality, community centres and nearby sites publish holiday activities. Here is what we could source; for each year's details watch the events page and the municipal WhatsApp groups (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
Shabbat and chag times
Two candle-lighting customs are used locally: 40 minutes before sunset (the Jerusalem custom) and 20 minutes before. ShemeshPhone publishes both, based on the Itim LeBina calendar (ShemeshPhone (opens in a new tab)). Our Shabbat page shows both.
Sukkot
- The municipality's Haredi youth and community department has published a page on municipal support for Simchat Beit HaShoeva events, Hoshana Rabba night and yeshiva gatherings during the Tishrei break (municipality (opens in a new tab)).
- Kiftzuba at Kibbutz Tzuba holds a mehadrin kosher food fair at its entrance during Chol HaMoed Sukkot (Kiftzuba (opens in a new tab)).
- The Israel Police Heritage Center hosts special events on Chol HaMoed Sukkot and Pesach and on Yom HaAtzmaut; hours vary (museum (opens in a new tab)).
Chanukah
The Police Heritage Center runs free guided tours for individuals and families during Chanukah, at 11:00 and 13:00 Sunday-Thursday and 10:00 on Friday, with advance registration (museum (opens in a new tab)). For city shows and community-centre activities, check the municipal calendar (opens in a new tab).
Purim and Pesach season: the lupins
Between March and April (Adar-Nisan) the lupins bloom on Tel Socho, the hill on the south side of the Elah Valley below RBS Daled, drawing thousands of visitors (WeShemesh (opens in a new tab)). See Tel Socho.
Holiday closures
National parks such as Bet Guvrin close on Yom Kippur and close early on Yom Kippur eve and other holiday eves (INPA (opens in a new tab)).