Yom Kippur

Traditions & Customs

  • A holiday dinner the afternoon before Yom Kippur eve
  • Celebrated from the Eve of the 10th of Tishri through the next day
  • Complete Fast:
    No eating or drinking
    No washing
    No wearing of leather
    Day Long Synagogue Attendance

    Ways to Celebrate

  • Repentance and Prayer
  • Prayerbook: Machzor
  • Synagogue Prayers: Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah)
    Kol Nidre

  • Synagogue Service: 8-3: Prayer & Fasting
    3-5 : Rest
    5 to eve: Kol Nidre
  • End of Service: Shofar blast

    Scriptural References

  • Leviticus 16 and 23
  • Other Verses:Exodus 32:33; Psalms 69:28; Phil 4:3; Mal 3:16-18; Rev 13:8; 17:8; Dan 7:10 Rev 20:2.

  • The Jews & Atonement

    Jewish Holidays | Judah's Glory |Rosh Hashannah |

    For on that day shall the Priest make an atonement for you to cleanse you that ye may be clean from all your sin before the LORD."

    The month of Tishri, the 10th day has been set aside since around 1500 B.C. for the observance of the holiday of Yom Kippur. The term 'Yom' means day, and 'Kippur' atonement, and the root of the word is related to hebrew expressions for mercy seat, atonement, redemption and 'covering'. The earliest commands of remembrance include the admonitions for a full Shabbat or Sabbath rest, with no work, and the day is considered by most as the highest of the High Holy Days in the Jewish community.

    The observance of the Day is commanded in Scripture as early as the the time of the Exodus, in the commands given Moses and in the Levitical Laws such as in the following passages:

    Lev 23:28-32 Also on the tenth [day] of this seventh month [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul [it be] that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul [it be] that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: [it shall be] a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It [shall be] unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth [day] of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.

    The essence of the command includes:

    1. A Holy Convocation or worship gathering
    2. The affliction of Souls [willingly]
    3. The Purification by fire
    4. A Sacrifice of a sin offering
    5. A Shabbat Rest
    6. An eternal remembrance of God's Atonement for sin

    In the Jewish Community it is a solemn day of asking forgiveness of sin of the past and future year, a day when the 'Books' are settled. It is also a day of asking God to forgive the broken vows of the year to come and to take an accounting of sins, first and foremost between man and God, but also to seek forgiveness and make reparations for wrongs done to one's fellow man. Since the Jews consider a vow sacred, and the breaking of it a serious sin, forgiveness is asked of God during this Holy convocation to 'cover' possible future indiscretions during the coming year