Holiday Hours
Closed for Yom Kippur: Our Holiday Hours and a Quick Door Check Before the Fast
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on Sunday, September 20, 2026 and ends after nightfall on Monday, September 21. Alpha Locks and Safe is closed both days, and we are back to regular service on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 AM. Here are our holiday hours, a little about the day, and a short door check you can run before the fast begins.
Yom Kippur is the quietest day of the Jewish year. Our family is taking the day off, and we want our customers to know exactly when we are closed and when we are back.
Yom Kippur Holiday Hours
- Sunday, September 20: closed. Yom Kippur begins at sundown, and we are closed for the whole day. On a normal week we are open 24 hours on Sundays, so please note the change.
- Monday, September 21: closed. This is Yom Kippur itself, and the fast ends after nightfall.
- Tuesday, September 22: back to regular hours from 6:30 AM.
Need a locksmith while we are closed?
Leave a voicemail at (914) 875‑1894 or email oren@alphalockandsafe.com, and we will get back to you when we reopen on Tuesday morning. If anyone is in danger, call 911.
You can also book an appointment online at any time during the holiday, and we will confirm it when we are back.
What Is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the Jewish year. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei and closes the Ten Days of Repentance that open with Rosh Hashanah. In 2026 it runs from sundown on Sunday, September 20 to nightfall on Monday, September 21. In White Plains, candles are lit at 6:37 PM on Sunday and the day ends at 7:35 PM on Monday (times from Hebcal).
A few things you may notice around Westchester this week:
- The fast. Adults who are able fast for about twenty five hours, from before sundown until nightfall the next day. Anyone whose health is at risk is told not to fast, and that call belongs to a doctor and a rabbi rather than to a rule of thumb.
- A quiet day. Most of the day is spent in synagogue, the streets are quieter than usual, and a lot of local businesses close.
- The closing shofar. The day ends with a single long blast of the ram's horn, followed by a light meal to break the fast.
- The greeting. "Gmar chatima tova" means roughly "may you be sealed for good". In English, people often simply wish each other an easy and meaningful fast.
A Five-Minute Door Check Before the Fast
The house tends to sit empty for long stretches on Yom Kippur, and nobody wants to be thinking about the back door in the middle of Kol Nidre. None of this takes more than a few minutes, and most of it you can do yourself.
- Walk every exterior door. The deadbolt should slide all the way out without you pushing or lifting the door, and the latch should catch on its own when the door closes. A bolt that only works when you lean on the door usually means the door has settled or the strike plate has shifted.
- Do not forget the side doors. The door from an attached garage into the house and the back door to the yard are the ones most often left unlocked, and they often carry the weakest hardware on the house. If yours are worn or were never upgraded, a lock change is a quick fix.
- Check the strike plate screws. Short screws that only reach the trim are a common weak point when a door is kicked in. Screws long enough to reach the framing behind the trim make a real difference.
- Carry only the key you need. If you are walking to synagogue, take the one key that opens the door you will come home through and leave the rest at home. A full ring is easy to set down somewhere and hard to notice missing.
- Count your keys. Think about everyone who held a copy this past year: contractors, cleaners, a dog walker, a former roommate. If you cannot account for every one, a rekey makes all the old keys useless without replacing any hardware. This one can wait until after the holiday.
When the House Is Empty for Services
Yom Kippur means long hours away from the house, often with the whole family out at once. Walk the doors before you go, and check the ones you rarely use. Back doors, garage entries and basement doors are the ones that get missed.
If family is coming in for the break fast and will arrive before you do, plan the handoff before the holiday starts: leave a key with a neighbor, set up a lockbox, or, if you already have a keypad or smart lock, create a temporary code in advance and delete it when they leave.
Keyless Locks on Yom Kippur
This one is worth settling before the holiday rather than at the front door. Many observant households do not operate electronic devices on Yom Kippur, and for a lot of families that includes battery-powered keypad and smart locks. Some choose a fully mechanical push-button lock, which opens with a code but has no batteries or electronics at all. Others keep a regular keyed deadbolt and simply plan who carries the key.
Practice differs from community to community and from family to family, so the right person to ask about what fits your household is your rabbi. What we can do is talk through the hardware on your door and what will actually fit it.
See You Tuesday
From our family to yours, gmar chatima tova, and an easy and meaningful fast to everyone observing across Westchester County. We are back on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 AM for homes, businesses and vehicles. Our regular hours are listed at the bottom of every page on this site.
Book a Lock Service for After the Holiday
Rekeys, lock changes and security upgrades for homes across Westchester County. Book now and we will take care of it as soon as we reopen on Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Alpha Locks and Safe reopen after Yom Kippur?
We reopen on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 6:30 AM, with all of our regular residential, commercial and automotive service.
Are you open on Sunday, September 20?
No. We are normally open 24 hours on Sundays, but Yom Kippur begins that evening and we are closed for the whole day.
What should I do if I am locked out during the holiday?
Leave a voicemail or send an email and we will get back to you when we reopen on Tuesday morning. If anyone is in danger, or a child or pet is locked in a car, call 911 right away.
Can I book an appointment for after the holiday?
Yes. You can book online at any time during the holiday, and we will confirm your appointment when we are back on Tuesday.