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Holiday

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement

Jewish Calendar

Major Holidays

Yom Kippur

יום כיפור

Yome Ki-POOR

“The Day of Atonement”

What is Yom Kippur

During the ten days from Rosh HaShana to Yom Kippur, there is a special focus on repenting and self-improvement in both relationships between man and G-d and relationships between man and man. Yom Kippur is marked with a 25-hour period of fasting. Most of the day is spent praying in the synagogue.

On the holiest day of the year, in 1973, Israel’s Arab neighbors invaded the Jewish State, but G-d protected His people in a miraculous victory known as the Yom Kippur War. In our generation, non-Jews are embracing the Day of Atonement and there are at least 15 reasons why Christians fast on Yom Kippur.

When is Yom Kippur

Tishrei 10

Month

Tishrei

Source and Origin of Yom Kippur

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה אַחֲרֵי מוֹת שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן בְּקָרְבָתָם לִפְנֵי־יְהֹוָה וַיָּמֻתוּ׃

Hashem spoke to Moshe after the death of the two sons of Aharon who died when they drew too close to the presence of Hashem.

Alternate Names for Yom Kippur

Yom HaKippurim – “The Day of Atonements”
Shabbat Shabbaton – “The Sabbath of Sabbaths”

Commandments (Mitzvot) of Yom Kippur

No eating or drinking – from sundown on the eve of Yom Kippur until the stars come out the next night
No bathing – this includes washing hands, which may be washed with soap if they are dirty but should only be washed up to the knuckles.
No wearing leather shoes – this was a sign of material possessions, which is not at all the focus of the day
No marital relations – this takes away from the focus of the day- spiritual, and not physical, matters.
No anointing oneself (with perfumes, oils, creams, lotions, etc) – also a sign of superficial pleasures, which is not the focus of the day
Resting from work – like any other biblical Jewish holiday, work is forbidden.
Atoning for sins/asking G-d for forgiveness – the main point of the day, to wipe the slate clean and ensure that one is sealed in the Book of Life for a good year. For matters between people (e.g. hurting another person), one must ask forgiveness from their fellow first and then ask forgiveness from G-d for the sin.

Customs of Yom Kippur

Wearing white – the Jewish people are considered like angels on Yom Kippur. Dressing like angels by wearing white, the purest of colors, emphasizes this.
Spending most of the day in the synagogue – there are five sets of prayers on the day of Yom Kippur, as opposed to the usual four of a holiday. There is also an additional prayer on Yom Kippur eve, known as Kol Nidrei. All of these prayers ensure that one spends a significant amount of time in the synagogue, repenting, as opposed to engaging in frivolous acts that are not fit for such an important and holy day.
Giving charity beforehand – this is said to help atone for sins
Kaparot – although this ritual is traditionally done with a chicken, nowadays most people use money instead. The ritual involves picking up either the chicken or the money and waving it in a circle above one’s head while reciting a passage from the prayer book three times. The intention is to move all of one’s sins from oneself to either the chicken or the money and to make them a replacement so that one can continue to live a good life free of sin.

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Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur

What is Yom Kippur

When is Yom Kippur

Tishrei 10

Tishrei

Source and Origin of Yom Kippur

Leviticus 16:1

Leviticus 23:27

Numbers 29:7

Alternate Names for Yom Kippur

Commandments (Mitzvot) of Yom Kippur

Customs of Yom Kippur

Help Us Spread the Hebrew Bible's Teachings!

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