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• Yom Kippur One of the Jewish High Holy Days

Yom Kippur: One of the Jewish High Holy Days

written on October 14, 2011 by Tameka Taylor

In the fall of each year, there are several Jewish Holidays that occur.  This article will focus on Yom Kippur, which is the Day of Atonement and the second of the two High Holy Days.   It comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah on the 10th of Tishrei.  Tishrei is a Hebrew month that occurs in September or October.  The focus of Yom Kippur is to focus on reconciliation between people and between individuals and God.  The Jewish tradition states that it is when God decides the fate of all individuals.

While Yom Kippur is an intense holiday, it is also seen as a happy holiday.  The happiness stems from if someone has properly observed the holiday by the end of Yom Kippur, then he/she will have made peace with both others and God.  Yom Kippur consists of three essential components: Teshuvah (Repentance), Prayer, and Fasting.

Teshuvah, repentance will be discussed first.  Yom Kippur is seen as the day of reconciliation by Jews; it is when they try to make amends with people and get closer to God through prayer and fasting.  The ten days prior to Yom Kippur are the Ten Days of Repentance.  During this time Jews are encouraged to seek out those people they may have offended during the past year so they can start the New Year off with a clean slate by sincerely asking for forgiveness.   If someone isn’t granted forgiveness the first time they ask, then they are to ask at least two more times for it and forgiveness should be granted.  The rabbis view it as being cruel not to forgive someone if it has not caused great damage to the person.

Teshuvah is what this process of repentance is called and it is a critical part of Yom Kippur.    Many people believe that sins from the year can be forgiven through praying, fasting, and attending Yom Kippur.  The Jewish tradition believes that offenses against God can be forgiven on Yom Kippur.  Therefore, it is important that people make all efforts to reconcile with all others prior to their participation in Yom Kippur services.

Second, prayer as a crucial part of Yom Kippur will be discussed.  The longest synagogue service in the Jewish year is Yom Kippur.  The evening before Yom Kippur, the holiday begins with a song called Kol Nidre (All Vows).  The melody words ask God to forgive any vows that people have made to God during the year and not kept.

Services for Yom Kippur last from morning to nightfall.  The service consists of many prayers, but there is one that is repeated throughout the service.  That prayer is called Al Khet and asks for forgiveness for many different sins that could have been committed throughout this year.  Sin is viewed as simple everyday acts like acts to hurt others, lying to themselves, or using foul language.  During the reciting of the Al Khet people gently beat their fists against their chest as each sin, they called out.  The sins are discussed in a plural form because even if the individual hasn’t committed the sin, they are taught that they are responsible for the sins of other Jews as well. 

The Book of Jonah is read during the afternoon portion of the services to remind everyone of God’s willingness to forgive those who are sincerely sorry.  Ne’ilah (Shutting) is the final part of the service.  This prayer focuses on the gates being shut against us.  During this time intense prayer takes place as they hope to be admitted to God’s presence before the gates have been shut.

Finally, Yom Kippur consists of 25 hours of fasting.  While there are other days of fasting within the Jewish tradition this is only one that the Torah commands that it be observed.  In Leviticus 23:27 it is described as “afflicting your souls” and no food or liquid is to be consumed during this time.  Fasting begins one hour before Yom Kippur starts and ends on Yom Kippur after nightfall.  Additionally during this time Jews shouldn’t engage in sexual relations, bathing, or wearing leather shoes.  The reason for not wearing leather during this time is the reluctance to wear the skin of a slaughtered animal while asking God for mercy.

Children below nine years old are not permitted to fast and children above nine are encouraged to eat less.  Participation for the full 25-hour fast is required of 12 year old and older girls and 13 year old and older boys  like the adults.  Pregnant women, new mothers, and people with life threatening illnesses are not required to participate in the fast.  Those groups have been identified as people who need their food and drink for strength.  It is customary in the Jewish tradition to value life over observing the Jewish laws.   Often people express feeling serenity at the conclusion of the fast as a result of making people with God and others.

Main source for this information came from About.com