Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur I ntroduction Yom Kippur is one of the most important holidays of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast, and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri . The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and it is a day set aside to “afflict the soul” to atone for the sins of the past year. During the Days of Awe , God inscribes our names in either the Book of Life or Death. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. On the eve of Yom Kippur, some religious Jews practice a ritual known as Kapparah ( כפרה ). Yom Kippur is a Sabbath day; no work can be performed on...