Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Fallin g in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar)\ , it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe\, a period of introspectio n and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah\, the Jewish New Year. Accordin g to tradition\, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate\, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committe d during the past year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a s pecial religious service. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism ’s “High Holy Days.” Yom Kippur 2023 begins on the evening of Sunday\, Sept ember 24 and ends on the evening of Monday\, September 25.
Wh
y are these holidays important?
Like most religious tradition
s\, Judaism places a high value on living an ethical life while at the same
time recognizing that humans are fallible. For that reason\, this season\,
with its emphasis on atonement and forgiveness\, is particularly important
and meaningful. Many Jews find the prayers\, especially the sounding of th
e shofar (ram’s horn) and fasting\, and the practices (seeking forgiveness)
associated with the High Holidays to be spiritually uplifting and liberati
ng. They are seen as an appropriate way to welcome the New Year and to begi
n it with a “clean slate.”
How are the High Holidays celebrat
ed?
The primary observance of both holy days is the participa
tion in synagogue worship. On Rosh Hashanah morning\, the shofar is sounded
as part of the worship service. Another well-known custom is eating apples
dipped in honey\, symbolizing the hope for a sweet year. Yom Kippur is a d
ay of fasting and prayer. The fast begins at sunset and ends the following
sunset. Young children and others for whom fasting presents a medical risk
are exempt from fasting. The synagogue worship focuses on rituals of penite
nce and confession. Many Jews will spend the entire day in synagogue. Jewis
h tradition teaches that one cannot ask for forgiveness from God for sins a
gainst another person unless one has first made amends with that person. Th
us\, many Jews at this time of year seek forgiveness from friends and famil
ies in advance of the holy day. Festive meals in the home\, especially one
to break the fast at the end of Yom Kippur\, are also traditional. Jewish l
aw prohibits working or going to school on these holidays.
Ob
serving Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is Judaism’s most sacred day of
the year\; it is sometimes referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.” For t
his reason\, even Jews who do not observe other traditions refrain from wor
k\, which is forbidden during the holiday\, and participate in religious se
rvices on Yom Kippur\, causing synagogue attendance to soar. Some congregat
ions rent out additional space to accommodate large numbers of worshippers.
Because the High Holy Day prayer services include special liturgical texts\, songs and customs\, rabbis and their congregations read from a spe cial prayer book known as the machzor during both Yom Kippur and Rosh Hasha nah. Five distinct prayer services take place on Yom Kippur\, the first on the eve of the holiday and the last before sunset on the following day. One of the most important prayers specific to Yom Kippur describes the atoneme nt ritual performed by high priests during ancient times. The blowing of th e shofar—a trumpet made from a ram’s horn—is an essential and emblematic pa rt of both High Holy Days. On Yom Kippur\, a single long blast is sounded a t the end of the final service to mark the conclusion of the fast.
Traditions and Symbols of Yom Kippur
Pre-Yom Kippur fea
st: On the eve of Yom Kippur\, families and friends gather for a bountiful
feast that must be finished before sunset. The idea is to gather strength f
or 25 hours of fasting.
Breaking of the fast: After the final Yom Kip pur service\, many people return home for a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes\, noodle pudding and baked goods.
Wearing white: It is customary for religious Jews to dress in white—a symbol of purity—on Yom Kippur. Some married men wear kit tels\, which are white burial shrouds\, to signify repentance.
Charit y: Some Jews make donations or volunteer their time in the days leading up to Yom Kippur. This is seen as a way to atone and seek God’s forgiveness. O ne ancient custom known as kapparot involves swinging a live chicken or bun dle of coins over one’s head while reciting a prayer. The chicken or money is then given to the poor.
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