Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, observed on the tenth day of Tishri, which typically falls in September or October. This day concludes the ten Penitential Days that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Traditionally viewed as the "Sabbath of Sabbaths," Yom Kippur is a solemn day dedicated to prayer and fasting, aimed at seeking forgiveness for sins and reconciliation with God. The day is marked by special synagogue services that commence on the evening before, beginning with the Kol Nidre prayer, which seeks remission for unfulfilled vows.
Historically, the rituals included elaborate sacrifices performed by the High Priest in the Temple, notably the ritual of the scapegoat, which symbolized the community's transgressions. In contemporary practice, individual repentance has gained emphasis, and the services reflect this shift. Many Jews wear white garments, and the remembrance of deceased loved ones is an important aspect, with special prayers like Yizkor included in the services. The day culminates with the blowing of the shofar, signaling the end of atonement, followed by a festive meal that often includes traditional foods. Yom Kippur is not only a time for personal reflection but also for communal remembrance and seeking forgiveness from others.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
This is a movable event
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the last of the ten Penitential Days that mark the beginning of the Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah. Yom Kippur is observed on the tenth day of the lunar month of Tishri (in the course of September or October). In 2024 Tishri begins on the evening of October 2. Jews traditionally consider Yom Kippur the Sabbath of Sabbaths, that is the holiest day in the Jewish year, a day of prayer and fasting to obtain forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.
Before the destruction of the second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, an elaborate ceremony was practiced, including the offering of sacrifices. In modern times, the ancient sacrificial ceremony is recalled by the repetition in the synagogue of a special service, namely the Avodah or “sacrificial service.” The Avodah service describes in poetry and prayer the ritual of confession and sacrifice that the High Priest performed when the Temple was standing. The High Priest recited three confessions of sins, namely one for himself and his household, one for the whole community of priests, and one for the entire Jewish people. The third confession was accompanied by the ritual of the scapegoat, during which the High Priest confessed the sins of Israel while resting his hands on the head of a goat. The priest then sent the scapegoat to die in Azazel, the wilderness. Since the destruction of the Temple, the importance of individual repentance has been stressed.
The Day of Atonement is observed in modern times by synagogue services that begin in the evening of the preceding day with the chanting of the Kol Nidre. This prayer asks for the remission of unfulfilled vows to God, specifically including those made under duress, and indicates the petitioner's desire for a new beginning. It is a tenet of Jewish belief that the remission does not apply to unfulfilled obligations between people. For these or other wrongs, it is incumbent upon the individual to seek the pardon of those wronged. By custom, the day before Yom Kippur is therefore given over to the mutual asking of forgiveness. Some Reform Jews do not chant the Kol Nidre but begin the evening service by reciting Psalm 130, as was done in biblical times.
Traditionally, the scrolls in the ark are clothed in white, and white garments are worn by the rabbi and the cantor during the Yom Kippur synagogue services. These services continue for the whole day. The souls of the dead are included in the community of those remembered on this day. Many Jews visit cemeteries and make special charitable gifts during the days before Yom Kippur. On the day itself, traditional Jews customarily light two candles, one in memory of the dead and the other for the living. The synagogue services include a special Yizkor, literally “He will remember,” service in memory of the dead. The last section of the synagogue services is the closing service of the day, which takes place just before sunset. This service is interpreted to mean the closing of the heavenly gates, at the sealing of the divine judgment.
The Day of Atonement services end with the confession of faith and the blowing of the shofar or ram's horn. For some, the break-the-fast dinner that follows may be hearty and include traditional foods: the braided bread known as challah, chicken soup, wine, honey or sponge cake, and taglach pastry.
Bibliography
Gervais, Timothy. "The Scapegoat Ritual of Yom Kippur." Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa, vol. 40, no. 2, 2016, pp. 30–39.
Gilad, Elon. "Origin of Yom Kippur: Not Moses, but a Murder in the Temple?" Haaretz, 20 Sept. 2015, www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium-origin-of-yom-kippur-a-murder-1.5400654. Accessed 1 May 2024.
"An Introduction to Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement." HuffPost, 10 Oct. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-is-yom-kippur-2016‗us‗57fbcabee4b0e655eab65f18. Accessed 25 June 2018.
"Yom Kippur: Fast Facts." CNN, 11 Sept. 2023, www.cnn.com/2013/06/11/world/yom-kippur-fast-facts/index.html. Accessed 1 May 2024.
"Yom Kippur: History & Overview." Jewish Virtual Library, www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yom-kippur-history-and-overview. Accessed 25 June 2018.