Yom Kippur
October 2, 2006

Out of all the Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur is the most important one of the Jewish year. It occurs in the month of Tishri, ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is a “Day of Atonement”, when Jews atone for their sins over the last year.

Yom Kippur gets its origin from the biblical verses of Leviticus 23:28. On this day the Jews have a day of reflection when they look over the past year. They must repent for their sins before God, make appropriate amends to people they have wronged and ask for forgiveness for promises that were broken.

Yom Kippur is a Sabbath day (a day of rest and no work is allowed), and on this day all Jews are to fast (no eating or drinking, even water is prohibited). Customarily Jews wear white as a sign of purity and the promise of sins being wiped clean. It is a complete day of fasting beginning before sunset on the eve of Yom Kippur and lasts until the sunset on the day of Yom Kippur. In total a 25 hour day of fasting is performed.

Other restrictions apply to Jews on this day, including the prohibition of washing or bathing, anointing one’s body (cosmetics, deodorants, etc), sexual relations and wearing leather shoes. These restrictions can only be lifted if there is threat to life or health involved. Children under 9 years old and women in childbirth (from time of labour till 3 days after birth) are not permitted to fast.

Most of the holiday is spent in prayers at the synagogues, beginning around 8 or 9 am to about 3 pm. Afternoon and evening services begin around 5 or 6 pm and last till nightfall, ending with the blowing of the Shofar or ram’s horn once.

Yom Kippur occurs on the following dates in coming years:

For the Jewish year of 5766, it occurs on the sunset of October 12, 2005- nightfall October 13, 2005

For the Jewish year of 5767, it occurs on the sunset of October 1, 2006- nightfall October 2, 2006

Back to Stories Page >>