Yom Kippur´s biblical roots stretch all the way back to the time of Moses. Much of the next day is usually spent at the synagogue with special ceremonies including Yizkor, a remembrance of loved ones who have passed on.Īt dusk, services conclude with the Ne ila (closing) prayer and the ritual blowing of a hollow ram´s horn to mark the time when the Gates of Prayer will be closed. On the first night, the ancient prayer Kol Nidre is recited. Ordinary days for religious Jews include three prayer services, but Yom Kippur is celebrated with five, and some ceremonies feature confessions of sins. His replacement that day failed miserably and told the manager after the game: “ I bet you wish I was Jewish too.” Five Prayer Services In 1965, the great baseball player Sandy Koufax refused to pitch in a World Series game because it fell on the holiday. Some Jewish Americans can find themselves caught in a conflict between their jobs and the sacred status of Yom Kippur. In the United States, bagels with lax (smoked salmon), blintzes (crepes with filling), and sweet kugel (noodle pudding) are particular favorites for the occasion. Bagels and BoundariesĪfter the final Yom Kippur service, hungry worshippers often gather for a break-fast meal. Kapparot is an ancient giving tradition followed by some Orthodox Jews that involves swinging a bag of coins or even a live chicken overhead while praying, then donating those items to the poor. Some religious Jews take the self-denial principle further, refraining from bathing, using cosmetics, wearing leather shoes, and having sexual relations on Yom Kippur.Īnother act of repentance is making donations to charity in the week before the holy day. In the Book of Leviticus, the Torah (Jewish Bible) states that Yom Kippur should be a day of “ self-denial.” Many Jews honor that principle by fasting on the holiday to cleanse the spirit and build empathy for those who suffer from hunger. The traditional belief is that God writes one´s fate into the Book of Life on the Jewish New Year and worshipers have the ten day period between that day, known as Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur to atone for sins and pray for forgiveness.Īt the end of Yom Kippur, it is said that God seals the Book of Life and one's fate is set for the coming year. Yom Kippur is considered the ideal time in the Jewish calendar to repent and start the new year cleansed of sin. It marks the end of the ten-day period known as the High Holy Days, (also referred to as Yamim Noraim or Days of Awe) that begin with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanna. The Day of Atonement (or Repentance) is observed on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar, which usually falls between mid- September and mid- October in the Gregorian calendar. While Yom Kippur is not a public holiday in the United States, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this day. © /coldsnowstorm Is Yom Kippur a Public Holiday? Yom Kippur offers worshippers a chance to reflect and make amends. The Jewish Day of Atonement is marked by reflection, fasting, and solemn prayers for forgiveness. ![]() ![]() Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).
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