Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, 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.
Key Concepts Yom Kippur is a fast day. The fast is 25 hours long.
Yom Kippur begins ten days after Rosh Hashanah. These 10 days are called Aseret Y’mai Teshuvah—The Ten Days of Repentance.
During this introspective holiday, we acknowledge that we are imperfect beings and commit to improving ourselves and our relations with others in the year ahead.
Children who have not become Bar or Bat Mitzvah are not permitted to fast on Yom Kippur
The Book of Jonah is read on Yom Kippur
A loud blast of the shofar—rams horn—concludes the holiday celebration.