“And for all these, God of mercy, forgive us, redeem us, and grant us atonement.”
Yom Kippur, which means "Day of Atonement," is an annual Jewish observance of prayer, fasting, and repentance.
Yom Kippur is one of the High Holidays, along with Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year), which is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
Yom Kippur is the Jewish holiday during which we devote our spirit, body, and soul to unification with our fellow humans, ourselves, and God. When the New Year starts, we resolve to engage in self-reflection and inner transformation.
As both seekers and givers of forgiveness, we begin with those we have wronged, confessing our sins and the pain we have caused them. We also are encouraged to forgive, to be able to let go of whatever bitterness we have against those who have wronged us. And then may we pray to God for forgiveness.
Fasting
Fasting was initially thought to follow the divine commandment to "practice self-denial."
The Yom Kippur fast allows us to forget our physical desires for at least one day each year, concentrating solely on our spiritual needs. We focus on prayer, repentance, and self-improvement during the day before returning to our regular everyday life after the holiday.
Judaism has a strong respect for life, and although the Yom Kippur fast is very important, it is never permitted to jeopardize one's wellbeing. Many that are too sick to fast (or to fast completely) are not permitted to do so.
Many that need medicine, as well as pregnant or recently delivered mothers, are allowed to do so.
Wearing White
Some Jews wear white on Yom Kippur. Because white is a symbol of purity and Yom Kippur is a day when we undertake a spiritual cleansing, it is an appropriate color for the occasion. Others interpret white as representative of the white shroud in which Jews are buried, symbolizing our mortality and reminding us of the need for humility and repentance.
Hearing the Shofar
Yom Kippur ends with a single, long blast of the . The stirring sound of the shofar at the conclusion of the holiday has many different explanations. One is that the practice recalls the giving of the at Mt. Sinai (when the shofar also was blown). Another is that the shofar signals the triumph of the Jewish community over its sins for another year.
