Becoming Jewish - Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a Biblical holiday that occurs on 10 Tishrei (in September or October). It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year. Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:27 No work can be performed on that day.

On Erev Yom Kippur (the night of 9 Tishri) the service is commonly known as Kol Nidre (all vows), named for the prayer that begins the service. In Kol Nidre we ask G-d to annul all personal vows we may make in the next year. It refers only to vows between the person making them and G-d.

Much of the day is spent in synagogue where the regular daily prayers are expanded. There is a special prayer book called the Machzor used for Yom Kippur. Services begin around 8am and continue until about 3pm. People then usually go home for an afternoon nap and return around 5pm for the afternoon and evening services, which continue until nightfall. The services end at nightfall, with the blowing of the tekiah gedolah, a long blast on the shofar.

Yom Kippur is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that include: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes, and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur. It is customary to wear white on the holiday, which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow. Some people wear a kittel, the white robe in which the man is married and the dead are buried.

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.

Page Updated: 03/07/10