Yom Kippur Customs

Yom Kippur, also known as the 'Day of Atonement,' comes ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Yom Kippur is first mentioned in Leviticus 23:27 where it is described as a day of atonement when no work should be done. It is one of the holiest holidays in the Jewish religion. Before sundown on the eve of Yom Kippur, is a time of feasting. The following day, praying and fasting to repent for the sins of the past year is practiced throughout the day, and is concluded with a feast at sundown.

It is custom to feast on the day before Yom Kippur. Feasting on this day for the sake of having strength to properly fast and pray on Yom Kippur is considered as one actually fasted on two days. On Yom Kippur, five things are forbidden: eating, drinking, wearing leather shoes, anointing with oil, and having sexual intercourse.

Yom Kippur is not a sad day; it is a day of reflection and atonement. Fasting is used not as a punishment, but as a cleansing of the body as well as the spirit. Ten days is spent asking forgiveness. First, forgiveness must be asked between the people, not G-d, as G-d cannot forgive unless individuals have forgiven each other.

Prayer Services

Yom Kippur is the only Jewish holiday that has five different prayer services instead of four. Traditionally, all other Jewish holidays only have four.

1) Kol Nidre: the evening service
2) Shacharit: the early morning service
3) Musaf: the second service
4) Mincha: the afternoon service
5) Neilah: the final service

After the final service, it is time to break the fast.