Katana VentraIP

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur (/ˌjɒm kɪˈpʊər, ˌjɔːm ˈkɪpər, ˌjoʊm-/ YAHM kip-OOR, YAWM KIP-ər, YOHM-;[1] Hebrew: יוֹם כִּפּוּר‎ Yōm Kīppūr [ˈjom kiˈpuʁ], lit. 'Day of Atonement') is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and Samaritanism.[2][3][4] It occurs annually on the 10th of Tishrei,[5] corresponding to a date in late September or early October.

For the 1973 Arab–Israeli conflict, see Yom Kippur War.

Yom Kippur
יוֹם כִּפּוּר‎

Jewish, national (in Israel)

Atonement and repentance to God for personal sins; sealing of one's fate for the upcoming year

10 Tishrei

Sunset, 24 September –
nightfall, 25 September

Sunset, 11 October –
nightfall, 12 October

Sunset, 1 October –
nightfall, 2 October

Sunset, 20 September –
nightfall, 21 September

Annual (Hebrew calendar)

For traditional Jewish people, it is primarily centered on atonement and repentance. The day's main observances consist of full fasting and asceticism, both accompanied by extended prayer services (usually at synagogue) and sin confessions. Many Jewish denominations, such as Reconstructionist Judaism (vs. Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, etc.), focus less on sins and more on one’s goals and accomplishments and setting yearly intentions.


Alongside the related holiday of Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur is one of the two components of the High Holy Days of Judaism. It is also the last of the Ten Days of Repentance.

Name[edit]

The formal Hebrew name of the holiday is Yom HaKippurim, 'day [of] the atonements'.[6] This name is used in the Bible,[7] Mishnah,[8] and Shulchan Aruch.[9] The word kippurim 'atonement' is one of many Biblical Hebrew words which, while using a grammatical plural form, refers to a singular abstract concept.[6]


Beginning in the classical period, the singular form kippur began to be used in piyyut, for example in Unetanneh Tokef, alongside the standard plural form kippurim. Use of kippur spread in the medieval period, with Yom Kippur becoming the holiday's name in Yiddish and Kippur in Ladino. In modern Hebrew, Yom Kippur or simply Kippur is the common name, while Yom HaKippurim is used in formal writing.[6]


In older English texts, the translation "Day of Atonement" is often used.

Significance[edit]

High Holy Days[edit]

Yom Kippur is one of the two High Holy Days, or Days of Awe (Hebrew yamim noraim), alongside Rosh Hashanah (which falls nine days previously).[10] According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into the Book of Life, and waits until Yom Kippur to "seal" the verdict.[11] This process is described dramatically in the poem Unetanneh Tokef, which is recited on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:

Most obviously, eating well before the fast will make it easier to complete the fast in good health.

Eating before the fast will actually make the fast subjectively more difficult, due to "withdrawal" from the previous day's feast, and thus increase a person's level of "affliction" on this day (though it is not agreed that a person should in fact attempt to increase their affliction beyond the basic requirements).

[57]

In general, Jewish holidays are celebrated with festive meals. Since a meal celebrating Yom Kippur cannot be held on the day itself, it is held beforehand.

One celebrates the forgiveness they are about to receive for their sins, thus demonstrating that they are in fact bothered by their sins, and thus are more deserving of forgiveness.

Recognition by the United Nations[edit]

Since 2016 the United Nations has officially recognized Yom Kippur, stating that from then on no official meetings would take place on the day.[125] In addition, the United Nations stated that, beginning in 2016, they would have nine official holidays and seven floating holidays of which each employee would be able to choose one.[125] It stated that the floating holidays will be Yom Kippur, Day of Vesak, Diwali, Gurpurab, Orthodox Christmas, Orthodox Good Friday, and Presidents' Day.[125] This was the first time the United Nations officially recognized any Jewish holiday.[125]

Ashura

Break fast

Archived 11 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Prayers for Sephardic Jews

– Online exhibition from Yad Vashem on the celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur before, during, and after the Holocaust

From Our Collections: Marking the New Year

Dates for Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur Prayers sung by Chazzanim

More information on Yom Kippur