WHAT IS YOM KIPPUR?
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays, the
Sabbath of Sabbaths.
By Yom Kippur the 40 days of repentance, that begin with the first of Ellul, have passed. On Rosh Hashanah G-D has judged most of mankind, and has recorded his judgement in the Book of Life. But he has given a 10 day reprieve.
On Yom Kippur the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good and happy New Year.
Since Yom Kippur is the day to ask for forgiveness for promises broken to G-D, the day before is reserved for asking for forgiveness for broken promises between people, as G-D cannot forgive broken promises and wrongs committed between people.
Yom Kippur is a day of ‘ NOT ’ doing. There is no blowing of the shofar and Jews may not eat or drink as fasting is the rule. The fast on Yom Kippur emulates the angels in heaven, who do not eat, drink or wash.
The Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur
1) Eating and Drinking
2) Anointing with Perfumes or Lotions
3) Marital Relations
4) Washing
5) Wearing Leather Shoes
While Yom Kippur is devoted to fasting, the day before is devoted to eating and preparation for the fast.
According to the Talmud the person “who eats on the ninth of Tishri (and fasts on the tenth), it is as if he has fasted both the ninth and tenth”.
On the eve of Yom Kippur the community joins at the Synagogue. Men put on prayer shawls (not usually worn in the evening). Then as the night falls the cantor begins the “Kol Nidre”, it is repeated 3 times, each time in a louder voice. The Kol Nidre emphasizes the importance of keeping vows, as violating an oath is one of the worst sins.
An important part of the Yom Kippur service is the “Vidui” or confession. The confession serves to help reflect on ones misdeeds and to confess them verbally is part of the formal repentance in asking for G-Ds forgiveness.
Because community and unity are an important part of the Jewish life, the confessions are said in plural. (We are guilty)
As Yom Kippur ends, at the last hour a service called “Ne’ila” offers a final
opportunity for repentance.
It is the only service of the year during which the doors to the Ark (where the Torah are stored) remains open from the beginning to the end of the service, signifying that the gates of Heaven are open at this time. The service closes with the verse, said 7 times “The Lord is our G-D”. The Shofar is sounded once and the congregation proclaim “Next Year in Jerusalem”.