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Yom Kippur
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Yom Kippur, the Day of atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays. It is regarded as the "Sabbath of Sabbaths." By Yom Kippur the 40 days of repentance, that begin with the first of Elul, have passed. On Rosh Hashanah the God Almighty has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgment in the Book of Life. But he has given a 10 day reprieve. On Yom Kippur these 10 days of reprieve ends and the Book of Life is closed and sealed.
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The concluding service of Yom Kippur, known as Ne'ilah, is one unique to the day. Ne'ilah offers a final opportunity for repentance. It usually runs an hour or longer (depending on how tired the Chazzan is). It is the only service of the year during which the doors to the Aron Hakodesh ( the Holy Ark where the Torah scrolls are stored) remain open from the beginning to end of the service, signifying that the gates of Heaven are open at this time. Because the Aron Hakodesh is open, many people stand throughout the service. There is a tone of desperation in the prayers of this service.
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In the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Yom Kippur had two unusual rituals in Jewish life: The entrance of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies, and the selection of twin goats. What's behind all this?
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Whereas some Yom Kippur customs have survived the ages (eg; kneeling, kappora, mikveh,xxiv viddui), others have not, including malkut, “flogging,” which is a classical Hebrew term for Biblical punishment. In the shtetlach of eastern Europe this job of lashing was given to a poor person who would then get “tips” from his “victims.”
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Total abstention from food and drink usually begins 30 minutes before sundown (called tosefet Yom Kippur lit. Addition to Yom Kippur ), and ends after nightfall the following day. Although the fast is required of all healthy adults, it is waived in the case of certain medical conditions. Virtually all Jewish holidays involve a ritual feast, but since Yom Kippur involves fasting, Jewish law requires one to eat a large and festive meal on the afternoon before Yom Kippur, after the mincha prayer. Wearing white clothing is traditional to symbolize one's purity on this day. Many Orthodox men immerse themselves in a mikvah on the day before Yom Kippur.
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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.
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Yom Kippur