Judaism: Yom Kippur | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, often referred to as the "Sabbath of Sabbaths." It marks the culmination of the 10-day period of repentance that begins with Rosh Hashanah. On this sacred day, Jews seek forgiveness from God, believing that He will deliver His final judgment on a future Yom Kippur. According to Leviticus 16:30, "On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins."
During Yom Kippur, Jews dedicate significant time to synagogue worship and wear white clothing to symbolize purity. 
The observance involves a 25-hour period of self-denial in five specific areas to purify the spirit and focus the mind on forgiveness and moral renewal:

• Abstaining from food (fasting)
• Refraining from drinking
• Avoiding bathing or using perfumes
• Abstaining from sexual relations
• Not wearing leather shoes

Features of Yom Kippur

The Day Before Yom Kippur

The day prior to Yom Kippur is dedicated to preparation, often involving acts of charity. 
Some Orthodox Jews perform a ritual called Kapparah, which includes the following steps:

• A live rooster (for men) or hen (for women) is held above the individual’s head and swung in a circle three times.
• While performing this ritual, the person recites: "This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement; this rooster [or hen] shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace."
• The bird is then slaughtered, and its meat is donated to the poor.
• Through this ritual, Jews hope the animal’s sacrifice will atone for their sins.

Observances on Yom Kippur

• Yom Kippur begins with an early dinner at home to allow attendance at synagogue before sundown. The day involves a 25-hour fast, during which many Jews refrain from consuming food or water, except for those who are ill or vulnerable. This practice stems from Leviticus 23:27, which describes Yom Kippur as a day of "self-denial."
• The most significant aspect of Yom Kippur is the time spent in the synagogue, which hosts five prayer services, more than any other day of the year. 
• Key features of the synagogue observances include:
  • Continuous prayers for forgiveness throughout the day.
  • The reading of the Book of Jonah, which highlights God’s readiness to forgive those who sincerely repent.
  • Torah scrolls and the rabbi dressed in white, symbolizing forgiveness.
  • The ark’s doors remain open, signifying that the gates of heaven are accessible.
  • Private confessions made quietly to God.
  • The Yizkor service, which commemorates the deceased.
• The Neilah service, the final and most sacred of the five services, marked by solemn melodies and prayers. It concludes with the sounding of the shofar, signaling the end of the fast. Many Jews view Neilah as representing the symbolic closing of heaven’s gates, which will occur when God passes final judgment on humanity.
• Following the Neilah service, children traditionally begin constructing a sukkah, a temporary hut, in preparation for the festival of Sukkot. Sukkot begins five days after Yom Kippur and is celebrated for eight or nine days. During Sukkot, Jews eat and sometimes sleep in the sukkah to recall their ancestors’ time living in temporary shelters in the wilderness.