Yom Kippur / יום כפור

Yom Kippur (Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר or יום הכיפורים), Also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes “the Days of Awe”).

Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Tue, 11 October 2016.

When is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur 2016 begins at sunset on Tuesday, Oct. 11 and lasts through Wednesday, Oct. 12.

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of communal and personal atonement for sins committed during the past year.

What are some of the customs on Yom Kippur?

Fasting is one of the central components of the Yom Kippur holiday.

Jewish adults are commanded to fast, but there are exceptions for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those who are ill.

Click here to see who is traditionally commanded to fast, and click here for tips for staying healthy during the Yom Kippur fast.

What are the services on Yom Kippur?

Prayer is the other central component of the holiday. The Kol Nidrei service kicks off the holiday, and Neila comes at the very end, bookending the holy day with solemn prayer. In between we read the book of Jonah, and perform the special Avodah service, which involves continually and frequently prostrating oneself on the ground.

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