Yom Kippur (Hebrew yom hakippurim, “day of
atonement”), the most sacred and solemn holy day in Judaism. It falls on the
tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, in September or the first half of
October in the Western calendar. The day is observed by fasting and prayer and
by rededication to a religious life. Like any other day in the Hebrew calendar,
it is reckoned from sundown to sundown.
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A HIGH HOLY DAY
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Yom Kippur marks the culmination of the Ten
Penitential Days, which begin with Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish New Year. With
Rosh Hashanah it constitutes the so-called High Holy Days. Yom Kippur is a day
of confession, repentance, and prayers for forgiveness of sins committed during
the year against the laws and covenant of God.
Although Yom Kippur is solemn and is regarded as a
day of judgment, it is not mournful in character because it offers an
opportunity for forgiveness for sins against God. In the case of sins committed
against individuals, one must first ask forgiveness from the person who has
been wronged. It is also the day on which an individual’s fate for the ensuing
year is thought to be sealed. Those who find repentance during Yom Kippur look
forward to a joyful year of health and happiness.
Fasting is a way for those observing Yom
Kippur to practice self-discipline, engage in spiritual contemplation, and
increase compassion for others. Most followers of Judaism do not eat or drink
during this time, and many observe additional restrictions outlined in the
Torah. Such restrictions include refraining from sexual relations, from
bathing, from using cosmetics, and from wearing leather shoes. White clothing
worn during Yom Kippur symbolizes spiritual purity and repentance.
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YOM KIPPUR LITURGY
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The liturgy for Yom Kippur is elaborate. The service
on the eve of Yom Kippur begins with the chanting of the Kol Nidre. This
prayer is a plea for absolution from vows made between humans and God that
cannot or should not be kept. Prayers are offered throughout the whole of the
following day. Portions of the Torah (first five books of the Bible) are read
aloud, and Yizkor, the memorial prayer for the dead, is recited. The
blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, marks the end of Yom Kippur.
The laws relating to Yom Kippur are found in
Leviticus 16, 23:26-32, 25:9 and Numbers 29:7-11. In the days of the Temple in
Jerusalem—that is, before ad
70—the high priest offered sacrifices for the expiation of sin. During the
ritual the high priest placed his hands upon a goat as he confessed the
people’s sins; the goat was then taken into the wilderness. This act was
symbolic of expiation and God’s forgiveness. The concept of the scapegoat, that
is, someone who bears the blame for others, originated in this ceremony.
