This year, the holiest day of the year – Yom Kippur – begins on the evening of October 11th for Jews worldwide. It is a day of repentance, during which public life in Israel comes to a standstill.
Yom Kippur, the most important holiday in Judaism, is celebrated on the 10th of Tishri (September/October) and concludes the ten-day period of repentance following the Jewish New Year. The underlying principle is that the new year can only be a good one if the sins of the previous year are not carried into the future. For ten days, one examines oneself thoroughly to recognize and atone for one's sins. During this time, one first reconciles with one's fellow human beings (note the order!), and then, on Yom Kippur, receives God's forgiveness. In this way, Yom Kippur truly becomes a new beginning – for the individual as well as for the entire nation. One enters the new year with a clear conscience. What a blessing!
In ancient Israel, Yom Kippur was associated with a special ritual performed with two goats (Leviticus 16). The High Priest carried the blood of one goat into the Holy of Holies, thus purifying the Temple. This was the only time of year the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies. The other goat was given the sins that the people had accumulated throughout the year and was sent into the desert—far away, never to be seen again. Yom Kippur has retained this character of new beginnings to this day, even though the Temple ritual is no longer possible.
The signs of Yom Kippur:
- Yom Kippur is a day of fasting. People do not eat or drink, do not wash, abstain from all pleasures, and do not engage in sexual relations. Luxury items are forbidden, and giving alms is common. However, as a sign of hope and forgiveness, people wear white – Yom Kippur is not a day of mourning.
- Many Jews spend the entire day in the synagogue. The services are long and follow one another throughout the day. Communal prayers of repentance are central, prescribed chants and scripture readings shape the day, and the well-known Kol Nidre prayer is recited by the cantor.
- The day is spent in complete silence . Shops, restaurants, and public institutions remain closed; public life is maintained only in its most essential functions. This quiet was shamelessly exploited by Israel's enemies when they deliberately attacked Israel on Yom Kippur in 1973 (Yom Kippur War).
The day ends with the blowing of the shofar horn with a long, drawn-out note. People break their fast. Many share a meal together, while others immediately begin building their sukkah for the Feast of Tabernacles. Then, for an entire week, they celebrate in earnest.
