13/10/2024
Yesterday we marked Yom Kippur, the "Day of Atonement,"the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is observed on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei and marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Yom Kippur is focused on seeking forgiveness for sins committed over the past year. It involves self-reflection, prayer, and asking for forgiveness from God and others. It is a time to reconcile with both God and people.
Fasting: A central observance is a 25-hour fast that starts at sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur and ends after nightfall the following day. This fast includes abstaining from food, drink, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and other physical comforts, symbolizing purification and spiritual elevation.
Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where special prayers and services are held. The liturgy includes the Kol Nidrei prayer, which opens the holiday, and the Ne’ilah service, which closes it. The prayers ask for forgiveness and repentance and acknowledge human frailty.
White Clothing: Many people wear white clothing during Yom Kippur, symbolizing purity and spiritual renewal. In some communities, men wear a kittel, a white robe, for the same reason.
Shofar: The blowing of the shofar (a ram's horn) marks the conclusion of Yom Kippur. This sound symbolizes the closing of the "Book of Life," in which, according to tradition, people’s fates are sealed for the coming year based on their deeds and repentance.
Yom Kippur is a day of introspection, not only about one’s relationship with God but also about interpersonal relationships. Many people use this day to apologize and reconcile with family members, friends, and others they may have wronged.