Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the ‘Day of Atonement’, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It’s a solemn time dedicated to fasting, prayer and introspection. Jewish people seek forgiveness from God and from others, aiming to enter the new year with a clear conscience.
Yom Kippur takes place ten days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
This year Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Sunday 20 September and ends at nightfall on Monday 21 September. Over this 25-hour period, Jewish people fast and spend much of the day in the Synagogue, engaged in prayer and reflection.
“During Yom Kippur, Jewish people do not consume any water or food, unless it is medically required. We engage in this day of fasting as a way of taking our minds off material and physical pleasures and focusing only on our spiritual connection with God. This restraint also extends to other material satisfactions, meaning that we do not use makeup or perfumes, wear leather shoes or wash more than is necessary for hygiene. Most of the day is spent in the synagogue, praying for forgiveness and spending time with the community. Judaism usually requires prayer three times a day, however on Yom Kippur we have five distinct prayers which are unique to the solemn nature of the day”.
A blog from the previous President of the Jewish Society, Ruby Kwartz (2023)
To find out more about what Yom Kippur is and how it is observed, check out this blog from Sophie.
The themes of reflection and considering our responsibilities and priorities are central to Yom Kippur. In her latest reflection, Rabbi Dr. Margaret Jacobi explores these ideas through the lens of making decisions for ourselves and thinking about what is meaningful to us.
For those observing this time, we wish you a very positive start to the new year. Shana Tova!
If you’re taking time away from Welcome Week activities to observe Yom Kippur, please don’t worry about missing out. Welcome Week activity continues until Friday 25 September so there’s still plenty more events and activities to get stuck into all-week long.