When is Yom Kippur? Jewish 'Day of Atonement' starts Sunday. Here's what to know

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal
·3 min read

Yom Kippur, known as the holiest day in Judaism, is swiftly approaching after Rosh Hashanah kicked off the Jewish High Holy Days last weekend.

Also referred to as the “Day of Atonement,” Yom Kippur is when Jews reflect on sins or wrongdoings from the previous year. Many Jews will attend services at synagogues or other congregations, reciting special prayers and singing special songs.

The holiday begins at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 24, and continues through Sept. 25. Here’s what to know about Yom Kippur.

What does Yom Kippur celebrate?

Yom Kippur, translated from Hebrew to English as the “Day of Atonement,” is when Jewish people reflect on sins or wrongdoings from the previous year. The holiday can be observed in many ways, such as attending services at synagogues or other congregations, reciting special prayers and singing special songs.

Fasting for 25 hours is another popular Yom Kippur traditions where Jewish people will refrain from eating or drinking from the night the holiday begins until it ends the next day.

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When is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sunday, Sept. 24, and continues through Sept. 25.

What are the High Holy Days?

Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are the two High Holy Days, or Days of Awe, in Judaism. During these holidays, Jewish people seek to amend their behavior while seeking atonement and forgiveness for their sins committed throughout the year.

During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people believe God inscribes a person’s fate for the next year in the Book of Life. Yom Kippur is when their verdict is “sealed.”

What are the rules of Yom Kippur?

There are five actions Jewish people refrain from during Yom Kippur, according to Chabad-Lubavitch:

  • Eating and drinking

  • Wearing leather shoes

  • Applying lotions or creams

  • Washing or bathing

  • Engaging in conjugal relations

Do Jewish people eat or drink during Yom Kippur?

Fasting is a commonly practiced tradition when observing Yom Kippur. Many Jewish people will refrain from eating or drinking for the duration of the holiday for a number of reasons.

Danielle Kranjec, associate vice president of Jewish education at Hillel International, told USA Today last year that many Jewish rituals and observances have to do with sensory experiences.

“Yom Kippur is really the one day on the Jewish calendar when Jewish people attempt to transcend the physical limitations of being in a human body,” she said.

Other ways Yom Kippur is observed

Many Jewish families and communities will gather before Yom Kippur begins and after it ends to have festive meals, to prepare to fast and then to break their fasts together.

Another important observance is the blowing of the shofar, or a curved ram’s horn. Sounding the shofar concludes Yom Kippur, according to Kranjec.

Some Jewish people also avoid other actions on Yom Kippur, such as bathing, applying makeup, wearing leather shoes or having sex.

How do you greet someone during Yom Kippur?

You’ll probably want to avoid wishing someone a “happy” Yom Kippur as the holiday isn’t meant to be celebrated in the way you might celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas. Instead, you might simply wish someone a meaningful Yom Kippur.

Here are some Yom Kippur greetings in Hebrew and Yiddish:

"Good Yuntif” or “Yom Tov": Have a good holy day.

"Gmar hatimah tovah" or "Gmar tov": A good seal.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: When is Yom Kippur? Jewish 'Day of Atonement' starts Sunday