A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT YOM KIPPUR PRACTICES
Greetings
It is customary to greet people on Yom Kippur with the phrase "have an easy fast" In Hebrew the greeting is: tzom kal.
Others say g’mar hatimah tovah; may you finish with a “good sealing” … referring to the wish to be sealed for good in the Book of Life at day’s end. There are those who offer an alternative greeting, "have a meaningful fast." Click on this link to hear how to wish people a happy new year in Hebrew. |
Flow of the Day
Most Jews begin their Yom Kippur observance with a festive meal (according to some commentaries, eating a feast right before the fast is as important as fasting throughout the day). After the meal is complete, Jews head to synagogue for the first service of Yom Kippur called Kol Nidrei ("all vows"). The opening prayer, in a familiar soulful tune, declares that all vows for the year are annulled.
The following morning, services continue with an emphasis on atonement and self-reflection. The day ends with a service called N'ilah (which literally means locking) suggesting that the Book of Life is locked/sealed with everyone’s fate for the coming year. At the conclusion of that service, the shofar is sounded one final, long time. Many congregations and families then hold a break-the-fast meal. |
Food
Food ... on Yom Kippur? This observance is perhaps best-known for its twenty-five hour fast that commences before sunset on the first evening of Yom Kippur and lasts until the next nightfall. No food or drink is consumed during that time. The reasons for this fast connect to the spirit of the holiday, for Yom Kippur is a solemn and introspective day. The source of this contemplation and atonement is biblical; Jews are instructed to “practice self-denial” or to “afflict their souls” (Leviticus 23:26). This phrase has been interpreted to mean fasting.
But the purpose of the fast is positive. It is not meant to cause suffering, but to help focus one’s thoughts on the prayers and on atonement for one’s sins. Those who are young, old or infirm, or whom the fast might adversely affect (such as pregnant or nursing women), are instructed not to fast. When the fasting is over, many congregations and families break the fast together, bringing the day of personal repentance back into a communal sphere. |
Wearing White
As a symbol of purity, white is a traditional color for Yom Kippur, just as on Rosh Hashanah. It stems from this quote in Isaiah: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall become as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). In some congregations, the rabbi and cantor wear a traditional white robe known as a kittel; in others, they wear a white robe and/or or prayershawl. The covers over the Torah scrolls are usually changed to white, as are other decorative items in the synagogue.
The Talmud suggests that Jews wear white to show their festive mood (as contrasted with black worn during a mournful mood). Another commentary states that though one does not wear black, one should also not wear colored clothes. According to this tradition, vivid colors indicate arrogance for one’s fate, whereas the white hue shows reverence and awe. In liberal settings, many Jews today wear whatever color clothing they wish. |
Giving to Others
It is a tradition in Judaism to give tz’dakah (funds to those in need) during each religious holiday. And so, many Jews give tz’dakah prior to eating the pre-Yom Kippur meal. [Two very different videos on tz'dakah are linked above.]
A specific Yom Kippur folk custom, dating back hundreds of years, is kapparot. Traditionally, this meant swinging a chicken over one's head, with the idea that one's sins would transfer to the bird. The chicken, or a sum of money equivalent to its worth, would then be donated to someone who could not afford a festive meal prior to Yom Kippur. Many Jews today who follow this ritual do so with money in hand, rather than a chicken. |
Want to know more?
Click here for the "My Jewish Learning" webpage with LOTS of links to great articles and information on Yom Kippur!
Also, check out this quick video by Rabbi Eve Posen |
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JECC)
www.jecc.org
www.jecc.org