Samaritan Yom Kippur and Sukkot

SAMARITAN WATCH: Ancient faith, modern lives: Samaritans prepare for Yom Kippur and Sukkot. From fruit-laden sukkot to a digital prayer book app, a community divided between Holon in central Israel and Mount Gerizim in Samaria combines ancient Israelite traditions with modern Israeli life (Tania Shalom Michaelian, Jewish News Syndicate).

(Sept. 22, 2026 / JNS) While most Israelis begin building their sukkot this week, one small community that traces its roots to the ancient Israelites will wait until the end of October.

The Samaritans (Shomronim in Hebrew) celebrate the festivals commanded in the Torah, but not always on the same dates as Jews. Their year begins with the Hebrew month of Nissan in the spring, rather than with the month of Tishrei in the fall. Their priests calculate leap years independently, based on a count beginning with the Israelites’ entry into the Land of Israel under Joshua. In some years, the festivals coincide; in others, as in 2026, they fall almost a month apart.

This year, Samaritan Yom Kippur will fall on Oct. 20, and Sukkot will begin on Oct. 25.

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For previous notices of Samaritan Sukkot, see here and links.

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