Yom Kippurיוֹם כִּפּוּר

The Torah describes the 10th day of the seventh month as the day of atonement, when the high priest, on the only day of the year, entered the Holy of Holies and performed the rite with two goats, one of which was sent “to Azazel” in the wilderness.^1,2,3

The Mishnah devotes the tractate Yoma to the Temple rite. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, sacrifice was replaced by prayer, repentance and charity; the description of the high priest’s service (Avodah) became part of the Musaf prayer.⁴

The Mishnah also records that on Yom Kippur and on the 15th of Av the young women of Jerusalem went out in white dresses to dance in the vineyards.⁵

Yom Kippur offers reconciliation with God to those who sincerely return (teshuvah): who regret, confess and resolve to act differently.⁶

The Mishnah stresses: Yom Kippur atones for transgressions between a person and God; for transgressions between a person and their fellow, only once they have made peace with their fellow.⁷

The fast and the white garments are interpreted as an imitation of the angels, who neither eat nor drink, or as a preparation for death (the kittel is also a burial garment) – the day leads to a serious reckoning with one’s own life.

On the eve, people ask those close to them for forgiveness, give tzedakah, and many go to the mikveh. Some Ashkenazim and Sephardim perform kapparot (formerly with a chicken, today more often with money for the poor); Joseph Karo rejected this custom, while the Rema supported it.⁸

Before the fast a festive meal is held (seudah mafseket). According to the Talmud, eating on 9 Tishrei counts as if one had fasted for two days.⁹

The Mishnah sets out five “afflictions”: the prohibition of eating and drinking, washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes and sexual relations.^10,11

Adults fast (from bat mitzvah / bar mitzvah); the sick and pregnant or nursing women follow the guidance of a doctor and a rabbi – where health is at risk, eating is an obligation.¹²

All the prohibitions on work that apply on Shabbat also apply; the Torah calls Yom Kippur “Shabbat Shabbaton”.¹³

The day has five prayer services: Maariv, Shacharit, Musaf (with the description of the high priest’s Avodah), Minchah (when the Book of Jonah is read) and the concluding Neilah. Each repeats the confessions Ashamnu and Al Chet.^15,16

Neilah ends with Shema Yisrael, the threefold “Baruch shem kevod malkhuto”, the sevenfold “Adonai hu ha-Elohim” and a single long blast of the shofar. During the day Ashkenazim say Yizkor.¹⁴

Canvas or rubber shoes instead of leather; the tallit worn even in the evening for Kol Nidre.

The shofar at the end of Neilah announces the end of the fast.

Yom Kippur is the day when people apologize – to God and to each other. Adults fast and pray all day.

Young children do not fast. Older children sometimes try fasting for a few hours before they reach bar or bat mitzvah age.