---
name: zmanim-and-calendar
description: Hebrew dates, zmanim (candle lighting, shkiah, latest Shema…), holidays and multi-day periods (the Three Weeks, the Omer, Chanukah) from Shafeh. Use for "when is candle lighting", "what's the Hebrew date of …", "when does the Three Weeks start", "what day is Purim this year".
---

# Zmanim and the calendar with Shafeh

- **Zmanim.** Call `today` with "zmanim in <city>", e.g. "zmanim in Crown Heights tomorrow".
  - Without a city, a signed-in user's saved place is used. Otherwise ask where they are; don't assume.
  - Give times exactly as returned, with the place they're for.
  - Shafeh follows Chabad practice for zmanim. If the user follows another custom, say these may differ by a few minutes.
- **Hebrew ↔ civil dates.** Call `calendar` with "15 Shevat 5787", "ט״ו בשבט", "2026-12-05", or "next Shabbos".
  - After sunset the Hebrew date has already moved on. Ask whether they mean tonight, or set after_sunset.
- **A month.** Call `calendar` with "October 2026" to get every day with its Hebrew date, holidays, Rosh Chodesh and parsha.
- **Periods.** Call `calendar` with "when are the Three Weeks" to get the periods active now and when each next falls.
- **Saving a place.** A signed-in user can say "I live in Jerusalem" through `learning`, and zmanim will default to it.