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Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the holiest days of the year.

What does Yom Kippur mean?

It means "Day of Atonement." It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone forthe sins of the past year.

In Days of Awe, the "books" in which G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in G-d books, where all our names are inscribed, is sealed.
This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.

Yom Kippur is one of the holiest days of the year. It is a time for introspection, self-correction, prayer, and teshuvah (repentance).

Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and attend synagogue services on this day.

When is Yom Kippur?

Yom kippur is on 10th day of Tishri. This year Yom Kippur falls on October 6 by Gregorian calendar.
Please note that all Jewish holidays begin at sundown of a day before the date specified here.

What are the customs of Yom Kippur?

Kaparot

It is an ancient custom to perform Kaparot before Yom Kippur. The preferred time for Karaot is just after dawn on the day before Yom Kippur.
This ritual is meant to symbolically express our recognition that we have sinned and are no longer deserving of life. By killing the chicken we are stating that, in truth, this should be our fate but that G-d has given us the opportunity to return to Him through teshuva and Yom Kippur.

The Kaparot ritual involves taking a chicken in your right hand
and revolving it over your head while reciting a prayer.

The chicken is then slaughtered and it is given to the poor. One can use money instead of chichken in this ritual, in this case money goes to the charity.

Seeking forgivness

It is customary to seek out the forgiveness of anyone whom you may have sinned against before Yom Kippur begins.

To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible.

The fast

The Yom Kippur fast is the strictest of the entire year.
It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It 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.

As always, any of these restrictions can be lifted where a threat to life or health is involved. In fact, children under the age of nine and women in childbirth (from the time labor begins until three days after birth) are not permitted to fast, even if they want to.

Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath

Yom Kippur - no work can be performed on that day.

More on restrictions Yom Kippur

The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: 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.

White garments

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 white tunic-like garment called a kittel, during the prayers of Yom Kippur.
The white kittel is reminiscent of the angels and symbolises purity. Furthermore, the kittel resembles burial shrouds and thus reminds us that we will die someday and thus humbles us to do teshuva. For these reasons, it is also customary to wear white garments on Yom Kippur.

Prayer

The day of Yom Kippur is devoted entirely to prayer, most of the holiday is spent in the synagogue. While concentration on one's prayers and their meaning is important throughout the year, on Yom Kippur it carries even more significance.

The order of the services on this Festival are as follows:

Kol Nidrei - "All vows."

The evening service that begins Yom Kippur is commonly known as Kol Nidre, named for the prayer that begins the service. "Kol nidre" means "all vows," and in this prayer, we ask G-d to annul all personal vows we may make in the next
year.
It refers only to vows made between yourself and G-d, and not between yourself and other people.

Shacharit - Morning Service.

This is quite a long service and involves many prayers of Confession (Viduee).
During this part of the day we also read from the Torah. Just before Mussaf we say a special prayer called Yizkor, "Remembrance," when we remember those close relatives that have passed away during our lifetime, those who have died for this country and for Israel, and a special prayer of thanks for us still being alive and for the relatives who are also still alive.

Mussaf - Additional Service.

This prayer will take up to three hours, and usually ends at about 4.30/5pm. It includes many prayers of confession (Viduee) and various occasions where we prostrate ourselves on the floor.

Minchah - Afternoon Service.

This prayer is relative short and will only take about an hour. It involves, as with the rest of the services, numerous prayers of confession and remorse and also includes reading from the Torah.

Neilah - "Closure."

The end of the fast is drawing near and the heaven doors are about to close. It is our last opportunity to plead and pray to G-d for forgiveness and asking Him to inscribe us in the Book of Life for the coming year. The Ark remains open throughout this part of the service, and the shofar is blown at its termination and the termination of the fast.

After all that we go home and relax with a cup of tea and a usually a piece of fish and rice.

List of Dates

• Jewish Year 5766: sunset October 12, 2005 - nightfall October 13, 2005
• Jewish Year 5767: sunset October 1, 2006 - nightfall October 2, 2006
• Jewish Year 5768 : sunset September 21, 2007 - nightfall September 22, 2007
• Jewish Year 5769 : sunset October 8, 2008 - nightfall October 9, 2008
• Jewish Year 5770 : sunset September 27, 2009 - nightfall September 28, 2009

To send a Yom Kippur Virtual Musical Greeting Card click HERE.