YOM KIPPUR GUIDE
This year, Yom Kippur starts at sundown on Tuesday, September 18th
& ends on September 19th after Shabbas when it's dark.
The holiday is a time of fasting, reflection, prayer
& repentance for the previous year & the year ahead.
- Yom Kippur is considered the most sacred & holiest day on the Jewish calendar
- Many Jews who don’t necessarily follow strict Jewish traditions or observe other regular Jewish practices still recognize Yom Kippur & follow the fasting custom on that day
EREV YOM KIPPUR
- A shortened version of Selichos is said in the morning
- Avinu Malkeinu is recited, but Tachanun, Lamnatzeach & Mizmor L'Todah are not
- Those who did not do Hataras Nedarim on Erev Rosh Hashana do so today
- There is a mitzvah to have a Se'udah Maf'sekes (festive meal)
1. Some have 1 Seudah in the morning & another after Mincha
2. Others have a regular breakfast in the morning & a large seudah after Mincha - Men go to the Mikvah after midday
- If Kapparot were not done, they should be done
YOM KIPPUR EVENING
- It is a custom
1. To wear some clothing that is white (a symbol of purity)
2. Men wear a Kittel (a light white long 'robe' that signifies repentance) - Yahrzeit lamps are lit for one's parents before Yom Kippur
- It is also customary to bless the children before Yom Kippur which can be found in the
Artscroll Machzor (p.32) & the Soloveitchik Machzor (p.38). - One comes early to the synagogue to recite the special prayer known as Tefilah Zakah
that expresses forgiveness to those who wronged you
CANDLELIGHTING
- The brachas for candle lighting are
1.'Baruch atah Adonoy le'hadlik ner shel Yom HaKippurim
2. She'he'chi yanu v'hig'i'yonu lazman ha'zeh
RESTRICTED ACTIVITY
- The five prohibited pleasures on Yom Kippur are
1. Eating & drinking
2. Washing
3. Anointing (perfumes, etc.)
4. Marital Intimacy
5. Wearing leather shoes.
PRAYERS OF REPENTANCE
- Yom Kippur is designated as a day set aside for repentance
- The davening begins with Kol Nidre (all vows)
- Confession is an essential part of repentance
1. Repentance can't be just a fleeting thought like other thoughts that come & go in a
person's mind
2. By confessing one's sins out loud, it becomes something much more real
3. A person must come to the complete understanding that the sis he committed are wrong
& can't be rationalized away - Viduy
1. The Al cheit, prayer alphabetically lists all types of sins that are commonly committed
2. Sins are expressed in the plural not only to save individuals from embarrassment but so
that the congregation as a whole might attain true atonement
3. One can't confess only for oneself, rather one has to beg forgiveness for all Jews who sin
4. If you read the Al cheit carefully, you will see that the list of sins is not a list of the Mitzvot.
but it is a list of categories of sins that are the most common.
A. Many relate to our misuse of speech & having the wrong type of thoughts or attitude
B. Some have to do with more concrete mitzvot like shabbas or Kashrus
C. All relate to us in way or another
D. You should not feel limited to confess only the list of sins printed in the siddur, one
should mention during viduy any specific sins which he or she may have committed
E. It is customary to gently beat one's chest during the viduy, as if to say that your heart
may have led you astray in the past but hopefully, this will not happen in the future
YOM KIPPUR IS OVER
- The concluding service of Yom Kippur is called Ne'ilah (closing the gate) & refers to the end
of Yom Kippur & the sealing of the Book of Life - The ark lies open & all who are capable of standing do so out of reverence
- The prayers end with a single blast of the shofar
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Explanation Of The Important Hebrew Words used on Yom Kippur
Fasting Tips | Kaporos | Candle Lighting| Yizkor & Memorial Candles
Q & A on Yom Kipper
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