Yom Kippur

  • Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It falls on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, just after the High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).

The central themes of Yom Kippur are atonement, repentance, and reconciliation. It is a day dedicated to self-examination, prayer, and seeking forgiveness from God and from other people for wrongs committed during the past year.

Key Practices:

  • Fasting: Adults (with health exceptions) abstain from food and drink for about 25 hours, from sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur until nightfall the next day.

  • Prayer Services: Extended synagogue services feature special liturgy, including the Vidui (confession of sins) and Al Chet prayers (listing transgressions). The Kol Nidrei prayer, chanted on the eve, is one of the most emotionally moving parts of the observance.

  • Repentance and Forgiveness: In Jewish tradition, sins against God can be atoned for through prayer and repentance, but sins against other people require seeking reconciliation directly with those harmed.

  • White Clothing: Many wear white garments as a symbol of purity and renewal.

  • No Work or Pleasures: It is customary to refrain from work, bathing for pleasure, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations, in order to focus entirely on spiritual reflection.

The conclusion of Yom Kippur is marked by the sounding of the shofar (ram’s horn), signaling both the end of the fast and a sense of spiritual renewal.