You generally cannot eat at all on Yom Kippur from just before sunset at the start of the holiday until nightfall the next day, unless there is a health or life concern that makes fasting unsafe.

Basic timing: when you can eat

  • The fast starts shortly before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur (after the pre-fast meal).
  • You may eat again only after nightfall the next day, when stars are visible and the fast is officially over in your community (often publicized as “fast end time” on local calendars).
  • In practice, people wait until the posted end time, make havdalah (ceremony ending the holy day), and then have a “break-fast” meal.

So for a typical Yom Kippur, you can eat right up until the fast starts pre-sunset, then not at all until the specified end time after nightfall the next day.

Who must fast, and who should not

Classical Jewish law expects:

  • Healthy adults from bar/bat mitzvah age (13 for boys, 12 for girls) to fast from food and drink the entire time.
  • Many communities also encourage older children to “practice” by delaying meals, but they still eat on Yom Kippur.

However, preserving life and health overrides fasting :

  • Someone with an illness where fasting could be dangerous is allowed—and actually required —to eat or drink as needed.
  • Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding people who are at risk by fasting may need to eat or drink, following medical and rabbinic guidance.
  • Soldiers or people in life-saving roles may be told not to fast if it would endanger themselves or their mission.

In these cases, the answer to “when can you eat Yom Kippur?” may be: you should eat during the fast, according to medical need , because saving life comes first.

Eating during the fast for health reasons

When someone must eat but can still fast partially , many authorities use “measured amounts” (shiurim):

  • Very small quantities of food (often under ~27 grams, about two small biscuits) every several minutes.
  • Very small amounts of liquid (around 35–40 ml) at spaced intervals, if possible.

These details are technical halacha , and different rabbis may rule slightly differently, so this should be done with both a doctor and a competent rabbinic authority.

If you cannot fast at all

If you are clearly unable to fast (for example, serious illness, certain eating disorders, or high medical risk):

  • It is considered a mitzvah to eat on Yom Kippur in order to protect your health, not a failure.
  • You can still connect to the day through prayer, reflection, and synagogue or home observance while eating normally or as your doctor prescribes.

Practical steps

  • If you are healthy:
    • Eat and drink normally until the posted start time before sunset.
    • Do not eat or drink again until the official end time after nightfall; then break the fast.
  • If you have any medical or mental health condition:
    • Speak to a doctor and a rabbi in advance about whether you should fast, fast partially, or eat normally.
* If they say to eat, then for you the correct religious practice is to **eat when needed** , even during Yom Kippur.

This is general information and not personal medical or halachic advice; for a real-life decision about when you personally can eat on Yom Kippur, talk directly with your doctor and a rabbi who knows your situation.