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By: Shalom Goodman
Yom Kippur 2024
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, when we are closest to G‑d and most connected to the essence of our souls. It’s the holiest day of the year, when Jews come together, fasting and praying as one. (Yom Kippur 2024 begins several minutes before sunset on Shabbat October 11th and concludes after nightfall on October 12th). Read on for a brief guide to Yom Kippur and its many facts, observances and customs.
Yom Kippur Lights
Even though there is no food to be had on Yom Kippur, we still dress the table with a festive cloth and light candles before the onset of the holy day. We say two blessings on the candles: one for the candles, and the other, the Shehecheyanu blessing, thanks G‑d for enabling us to reach this milestone.
Pre-Yom Kippur Blessings
There is a time-honored custom to bless one’s children before Yom Kippur begins. Although there is no required formula, it is customary to say:
For a son: “May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Menashe.”
For a daughter: “May G‑d make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.”
For all children: The L‑rd spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: This is how you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “May G‑d bless you and guard you. ‘May G‑d shine His countenance upon you and be gracious to you. ‘May G‑d turn His countenance toward you and grant you peace.” They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel, so that I will bless them.
- Kol Nidre Is Just the Beginning
The first prayer of Yom Kippur, known as Kol Nidre, is often thought of as the quintessential prayer of the day. In fact, it’s not even a prayer! It is simply a declaration that all our vows be considered null and void. Read more about the history of Kol Nidre here.
- To the Power of Five
It is well known that we do not eat or drink on Yom Kippur. But did you know that it is just one of five things we eschew on this holy day? Here are the other four: conjugal relations, washing, applying lotions or oils and wearing leather footwear. Read up on the Yom Kippur Laws here.
- A Day to Forgive
More than 3,300 years ago, after hearing from G‑d at Sinai, the children of Israel sinned by creating and worshipping a golden calf. Moses came down from Mount Sinai, saw what had happened, and smashed the two tablets on which the Ten Commandments were engraved. Moses then ascended the mountain once again, and stayed there for 40 days, and then another 40 days. On the tenth day of the month of Tishrei he came down with a complete pardon as well as a second set of tablets.
Ever since, the day of Moses’s descent has been known as Yom Kippur, the day of forgiveness, an appropriate day to ask G‑d (and others) to forgive us for anything we may have done wrong.
- Pure White
There is an ancient custom to wear white on Yom Kippur. This reminds us of the burial shrouds that all people wear eventually. But the white garments also remind us of the pristine angels to whom we are compared on this most sacred of days.
- Yom Kippur Is for Every Jew
It’s a day of unity. No matter what you do all year long, there is a spot for you in the synagogue—just as we were at Sinai, “as one people with one heart.” Looking for a seat at an inviting, friendly service? Check out Chabad’s international Yom Kippur service directory.
- The 10 Martyrs of Yom Kippur
The narrative of the Ten Martyrs graphically depicts the horrific death of ten sages at the hand of an evil Roman king nearly 2,000 years ago. Notable among the victims were Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel. This heart-rending account describes deaths that were brought about on the altar of senseless hatred.
Ashkenazic Jews read the account of the Ten Martyrs in the Yom Kippur liturgy after the description of the High Priest’s service in the Temple on Yom Kippur.
- Five Prayers
On an ordinary day, there are three daily prayers: Maariv (evening prayer), Shacharit (morning prayer) and Minchah (afternoon prayer). On Shabbat and holidays, we add Musaf (additional prayer). Yom Kippur is the only day of the year when we pray Ne’ilah, the closing prayer, which is said as the sun is sinking in the west and this special day is coming to a close.
- How Is Yom Kippur Like Purim
The Torah actually refers to Yom Kippur as “Yom Hakippurim.” Literally, this means “the day of forgiveness.” But it can also be rendered as “a day like Purim.” Purim is a happy day, celebrated by giving gifts, partying and having a great time. And yet, Yom Kippur, the most sacred of days, is only like Purim, i.e., it doesn’t quite reach Purim’s level of holiness. How can that be?
Our goal on this earth is to make the mundane holy, to make Tuesday afternoon as G‑d-oriented as Friday evening. On Purim, we embrace our physical selves, our base desires and our crass surroundings, lifting them up into the realm of the spirit. On Yom Kippur, however, we focus solely on the spirit. No physical distractions or material needs to get in the way. This sets us on the road toward the goal of elevating the world around us. But it is only a start. On Purim, we finally get there.
- Dip, Drip, Dress, Repeat!
In the Holy Temple, Jews didn’t pray with prayer books on Yom Kippur (in fact, prayer books weren’t even invented yet). Instead, the focus of the day was to watch the High Priest perform Yom Kippur’s sacred duties in the Temple. There were animals to slaughter and sacrifice, incense to burn, and much more to do before the day was done. Some of his duties would be carried out in his ornate, colorful gold-trimmed uniform. Others were done wearing a plain outfit of white linen. Every time he needed to change, he would slip behind a screen, disrobe, dip into the purifying waters of the mikvah, towel off, and then get dressed again. Now, the floors weren’t heated, and it can get chilly in Jerusalem in the fall, so he needed to be in tip-top form!
- The Two Goats and the Red String
Two goats were brought to the Temple. The High Priest would draw lots, one bearing the words, “to the L‑rd,” the other, “to Azazel.” The goat for which the words “to the L‑rd” fell was offered as a sacrifice. The High Priest confessed the sins of the nation over the other goat, and it was then taken away into the desert hills outside Jerusalem to plunge to its death, taking the sins of the people with it. Tradition tells us that a scarlet thread would be attached to its horns, and half of the thread was removed before the animal was sent away. If the rite had been effective, the red thread that remained would turn to white, symbolizing Israel’s purity. Learn more about the goats of Yom Kippur here.
- A Week to Prepare
The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) would be separated from his family and community for a week before Yom Kippur, holed up in the “Lishkat Parhedrin,” a special chamber in the Holy Temple. This isolation process served as a way for the Kohen Gadol to make sure he remained ritually pure and had every aspect of the service down pat. It was also an opportune time for introspection, when he could finalize his spiritual preparation for representing the Jewish people on the holiest day in the holiest place on earth.
- Jubilee Would Begin with Jubilation!
In ancient Israel, every 50th year was a Yovel (Jubilee) year. It was a special time during which there would be virtually no agricultural work. Real estate would revert to its original owners, and slaves were set free. It all began on Yom Kippur, when a shofar would sound, ushering in a true sense of freedom and cheer … jubilation!
- The Rabbi Reads About What?
In the late afternoon, before sundown, while exhausted and painfully hungry, we read chapter 18 of Leviticus, which details the prohibitions against incest and other forbidden sexual behaviors. This is a seemingly inappropriate passage to be read at such a lofty and pivotal moment in our journey of repentance. The reason we read this passage at this moment is that it serves as a reminder that however high we try to ascend, we are still mortal beings with lowly urges and desires. Mentioning the lowliest sins serves as a reminder as to how important our daily actions are, and how meaningful the daily struggle with the evil inclination truly is.
