Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement

 “The LORD said to Moses, “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. Do not work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 23:26-28 NIV.

G'mar chatima tova is the traditional Hebrew greeting said before (and on) Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year and the culmination of the High Holiday season. It translates as, “a good final sealing,” in the Book of Life, the Jews believe they are inscribed on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur falls on the 10^th of Tishrei, usually in September or the beginning of October. 

In the afternoon before the start of Yom Kippur, shops close early and public transportation also ends earlier than on a Friday afternoon. Airports and harbors are closed until Wednesday evening. 

Soon, the quiet streets are taken over by children on bikes and people walking to the synagogues. 

As a symbol of purity many Jews wear white clothing and either walk on plastic shoes or house slippers, as long as they are not from leather. They spend most of Yom Kippur in synagogue, where prayer services are followed by litanies and petitions of forgiveness.

Even non-religious Jews try to keep the 25 hour fast. During this holiest day of the Jewish Year, synagogue attendance usually triples. 

When the sun is setting, many flock to the synagogue for the Ne’ilah prayer, after which the “Shma Israel” is recited and the Shofar blown. This symbolizes the closure of God’s books, in which the names are written for those who shall live or die the next year.

When Yom Kippur ends, directly after a festive meal, many religious Jews begin to build their Succa.

Kapparot ritual 

In ancient times it was customary to herald the end of Yom Kippur by blowing the Shofar at the Western Wall. This custom was re-installed when in 1967 Jerusalem was re-unified.

Amongst the ultra-orthodox (Haredim) the custom of “Kapparot” continues till this day. A live fowl is swung around the read while texts relating to redemption are recited. The fowl is then given to the poor. Many rabbis reject this superstitious custom. (A circle is like a magic ring to ward off evil spirits.)

“Tzedekah” – charity, is a way of Jewish life, and an integral part of Yom Kippur. Especially around the holiday season people donate money to many charitable organizations.

You can find more information on this most holy day in the book "Remember, Observe, Rejoice" by Petra van der Zande. 

You can order the book here: