(5772) October 10, 2011

The Biblical holiday of Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement – is the last day of the High Holy Days. The fast of Yom Kippur begins at sundown on the ninth of Tishri and continues until the stars can be seen in the sky on the tenth of Tishri.

However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; there shall be a holy convocation unto you, and you shall afflict your souls; and you shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And you shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. And whatsoever soul it be that does any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people. You shall do no manner of work; it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls; in the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening unto evening, shall you keep your Sabbath. (Vayikra 23:27-32)

Yom Kippur is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for one’s sins of the past year. This Day of Atonement only atones for sins between man and Hashem and not for sins between man and man. According to the Torah Yom Kippur is a day of rest and no work may be done. This day is also a day of afflicting one’s soul (Vayikra 23:32).

In addition to these commands in the Torah, the Mishnah (Yoma 8:1) also speaks of five additional prohibitions:^[1]
1. No eating or drinking
2. No wearing of leather shoes
3. No bathing or washing
4. No anointing oneself with perfume or lotion
5. No marital relations

It has been suggested that there is a parallel between the five prohibitions and man’s expulsion from Gan Eden. At the point of the expulsion, free will choices between good and evil truly began and hard work and death became part of mankind’s world. On Yom Kippur, mankind attempts to symbolically return to Gan Eden through repentance.^[2]

By the sweat of your face shall you eat bread… (Bereishit 3:19). Before the transgression all food was given to mankind and there was no need to produce food. On Yom Kippur, in order to atone for mankind’s transgression and symbolically return to Gan Eden, one refrains from eating and drinking.^[2]

Thorns also and thistles shall it [the ground] bring forth to you… (Bereishit 3:18). When man was in Gan Eden there was no need for shoes to protect against thorns or thistles or even against other creatures. Upon being expelled from Gan Eden, mankind lost the originally given security and was forced to wear leather garments. On Yom Kippur one does not wear leather shoes as a symbolic return to the safety of Gan Eden.^[2]

By the sweat of your face… (Bereishit 3:19). Traditionally, it was understood that man did not sweat while in Gan Eden. As a result of the expulsion from Gan Eden mankind was forced to work hard for his or her basic needs. On Yom Kippur one refrains from bathing or anointing oneself as a symbolic return to the state of mankind in Gan Eden.^[2]

Unto the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your pain and your travail; in pain you shall bring forth children; and your desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.’ (Bereishit 3:16) In Gan Eden marital relations were not necessary for the propagation of mankind. After the expulsion mankind found it necessary to have relations to ensure the survival of mankind. As a result marital relations are forbidden on Yom Kippur as a symbolic return to Gan Eden.^[2]

On Erev Yom Kippur – the night of nine Tishri – the Day of Atonement begins with the service commonly known as Kol Nidre. Kol Nidre is a legal formula where the person asks Hashem to annul all personal vows that he or she may make in the coming year.

A special siddur – known as the Machzor – is used on Yom Kippur. Shachrit – the morning prayer – is preceded by penitential prayers, known as Selichot. This service is followed by an additional Musaf prayer. During the Musaf portion of the Yom Kippur service, a recitation of the sacrificial service of the Temple – known as the Seder Ha’avodah – is recited. The Sefer Ha’avodah recounts the detail of the sacrificial ceremonies that took place on Yom Kippur when the Temple stood in Jerusalem. The main section of the Seder Ha’avodah is a threefold recitation of the Kohen Gadol’s actions in the Holy of Holies.^[3] The actions of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur when the Temple stood are described in tractate Yoma. This section of the Talmud is studied on Yom Kippur and integrated into the Musaf portion of the Yom Kippur service. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem the Kohen Gadol had to follow a precise order of services, sacrifices, and purifications on Yom Kippur.

During the Yom Kippur service the Kohen Gadol “wore five sets of garments (three golden and two white linen), immersed in the mikvah five times, and washed his hands and feet ten times. Sacrifices included two (daily) lambs, one bull, two goats, and two rams, with accompanying mincha (meal) offerings, wine libations, and three incense offerings (the regular two daily and an additional one for Yom Kippur). The Kohen Gadol entered the Holy of Holies three times. The [personal Name of Hashem] was pronounced three times, once for each confession.”^[4]

The Mincha (afternoon prayer) includes a haftarah which includes the entire Book of Jonah. The Rabbis gave four reasons for reading the Book of Jonah on Yom Kippur.^[5]
1. The Book of Jonah reminds one of Hashem’s infinite mercy.
2. The Book of Jonah teaches about teshuva (repentance).
3. The Book of Jonah reminds one that the entire world is in Hashem’s hands.
4. The Book of Jonah reminds one that he or she can still be saved even as the day comes to an end.

The final service of Yom Kippur is called the Neilah service which literally means “closing.” This service references the closing of the gates of heaven. During this portion of Yom Kippur, the doors of the Ark remain open – revealing the Torah Scrolls inside. While the Ark doors are open it is tradition to remain standing. The ending of Yom Kippur comes with the first stars appearing in the sky. It is at this point that the shofar is blown one last time indicating the end of the High Holy Days.

Additional Information: Yom Kippur: Atonement and Holiness :: Yom Kippur :: Yom Kippur :: Yom Kippur

Family Activities: Yom Kippur Word Puzzle :: Tzivos HaShem: Yom Kippur :: High Holidays Family Activities

PLEASE FORGIVE ME
By Rachel-Esther bat-Avraham

Asking for forgiveness is one of the most difficult things one must do in life. Asking for forgiveness means that one is honest and truly feel sorry for one's trespasses. On Yom Kippur, Jews ask G-d's forgiveness for trespasses made against G-d and G-d's Laws. Searching one's soul is part of the process of asking for forgiveness and fasting on Yom Kippur helps the process of atonement and soul searching.

Yom Kippur is the ending of the Days of Awe during. The Book of Life is written on Rosh Hashanah and determines who will have a good life and who will have a bad life during the next year.  However, these decrees are not sealed until the end of Yom Kippur. These decrees can be altered through the acts of charity, prayer, and repentance. Charity is an essential part of Judaism. It is a tradition to give money and/or food to the poor and hungry during this time. Special prayers are said during this time as well as special services during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Repentance not only means repentance to G-d on Yom Kippur but also to one's fellow man.

May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.

© Rachel-Esther bat-Avraham 2003-2012

^[1]Epstein, I. Soncino Babylonian Talmud: Yoma. London: Soncino Press, 1949
^[2]Rabinowitz, Avi. “The Inuyim of Yom Kippur & the Expulsion from Eden”. Mail-Jewish. Volume 37 Number 16. Ottmall.Com, 11 September 2002.
^[3]Harlow, Jules. Mahzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. New York: Rabbinical Assembly, 1978.
^[4]“Yom Kippur”. wikipedia.org. Wikipedia, n.d.
^[5]Bernstein, Maya. “Jonah & Yom Kippur”. myjewishlearning.com. My Jewish Learning. n.d.

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