The day of Yom Kippur 

By: Caleb Shaulis  

Yom Kippur is a holiday celebrated by Jewish people around the world. Yom Kippur starts at sunset of October eleventh and ends on October twelfth at nightfall. Yom Kippur is the most important holiday in Judaism since the day is also called the day of atonement. 

  Yom Kippur is a marker for the ten days of reprentance for Jewish people to reflect on their body and mind. Yom Kippur is the holiday that follows the Jewish new year. People who follow Judaism fast for 25 hours during this holiday and also receive special religious services. According to an article from History.com, “Jewish texts recount that during biblical times Yom Kippur was the only day on which the high priest could enter the inner sanctum of the holy temple in Jerusalem.” During this time which the high priest was in the inner sanctum, they would perform a series of rituals that would ask for god’s forgiveness on behalf of Israel. These rituals that were performed on Yom Kippur were said to have stopped after the Romans destroyed the second temple. When Nick Hall from C.I.T was asked about if he had partaken in something similar he said, “Yes I have, I fast while praying during an event from my church”. 

  Some people are exempt from Yom Kippur due to either age, illness, or recent birth. Before Yom Kippur starts families and friends gather to have a feast that is required to be finished before sunset. The central idea around the feast is so that they have strength for fasting 25 hours straight. After Yom Kippur Jewish people have a festive meal. A custom that Jewish people do is wear white during Yom Kippur to symbolize their purity and married men wear kittles to symbolize their repentance for past sins.  

   In the Torah, Yom Kippur is also known as Shabbat Shabbaton. Orthodox Jews are forbidden to wear any leather shoes, nor apply any oil to themselves. During the eve of Yom Kippur, Kole Nidre is recited amongst families. During Yom Kippur, people read from the Torah and recite penitential prayers. They also have prayers for the recently deceased called Yizkor. At the end of Yom Kippur Jewish people end the holiday by blowing into a ritual horn called the Shofar. Lots are stones with symbols on them that are thrown onto the ground or table to determine fate. When the second temple was still standing, a common ritual done on Yom Kippur was to have two identical goats and have lots decide what fate lies for them. During this, one goat would be destined to be consecrated to God, while the other goat was sent to the desert to die with the sins of Israel. This ritual also symbolizes Jacob and Esau and the paths they each chose. When asked about participating in Yom Kippur James Carnathan said “I don’t think that I have participated in anything like Yom Kippur”. 

  Yom Kippur is a holiday to have a better connection to God and to be cleansed of all sins in the past year. Yom Kippur also brings people together and to strengthen those bonds. Yom Kippur is were people come to understand and help the less fortunate. Yom Kippur is a holiday celebrated by many and can help us have better connections.  

Siting: history.com   Britannica.com   myjewishlearning.com    icfj.com