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How to Prepare to Fast on Yom Kippur
Experienced fasters agree that hydrating as much as possible before a fast is vitally important. If you can, start to drink extra water at least two days before the fast begins.
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" and refers to the annual Jewish observance of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Part of the High Holidays, which also includes Rosh HaShanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.
Yom Kippur is the moment in Jewish time when we dedicate our mind, body, and soul to reconciliation with our fellow human beings, ourselves, and God. As the New Year begins, we commit to self-reflection and inner change. As both seekers and givers of pardon, we turn first to those whom we have wronged, acknowledging our sins and the pain we have caused them. We are also commanded to forgive, to be willing to let go of any resentment we feel towards those who have committed offenses against us. Only then can we turn to God and ask for forgiveness. As we read in the Yom Kippur liturgy, “And for all these, God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement.”
Find Services
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Attend Virtual High Holiday Services
Many congregations offer virtual High Holiday services and programs for non-members.
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A Parent's Must-Have Guide to Handling the High Holidays
The High Holidays bring a special kind of panic upon Jewish families. Here's your guide to helping them go more smoothly.
Kol Nidrei
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Sounds of Kol Nidrei
The melody that stirs the heart of Ashkenazic Jews is of unknown origin, but is part of a body of music known as "MiSinai melodies" that emerged in Germany between the 11th and 15th centuries.
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Chocolate Outs Jews on Yom Kippur
Crypto-Jews living in Mexico in the 17th century, under the surveillance of the Inquisition, developed sticky subterfuges to avoid being outed for their undercover Jewish practices, including those that related to chocolate drinking.
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Find a Congregation Near You
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Relating to Yom Kippur
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Jewish Questions
- At what age do Jews start to participate in a fast on Yom Kippur? What if they are sick and not well enough to fast?
- Can my fiancé and I get married between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
- Does one wear a tallit to services the night of Yom Kippur (Kol Nidrei)?
- I plan to attend Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur services this year for the first time. Will I be expected to donate money during the service, like in a church service? If so, what’s the "right” amount?
- Is Yom Kippur like confession?
- What Are Yom Kippur Yizkor Prayers?
- What Greetings are Appropriate on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur?
Ways to Prepare
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Yom Kippur Videos
Learn about Tashlich, blow the shofar and more high holiday traditions with these videos.
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Yom Kippur Social Action Guide
Ideas for incorporating social action themes into your Yom Kippur observance.
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How to Ready Your Young Child for Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur and toddlers don’t seem to go together very well. On the most solemn day of the calendar, it can be difficult to figure out what to do with a young child who isn’t ready to sit in services all day.
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What's New
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Simple Ways to Make Yom Kippur Meaningful at Home with Young Children
September 13, 2023
As the high holidays approach, we are reminded that there are so many meaningful Jewish moments to celebrate. Within the joy and ruach (spirit) of holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah, lies the solemn and serious Yom Kippur. There are a myriad of ways to make Yom Kippur meaningful for young children, for whom especially, Yom Kippur is not an easy holiday to understand.
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The Heroic Work of Repentance
September 6, 2022
This time of year, we hear again and again about how much emphasis Judaism places on the nuances of how to address harm of all kinds. I am convinced that the steps of repentance and repair outlined by the medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides make sense not only in our individual lives when we harm our coworkers, friends, family, and intimate partners, but also in reference to the communal, cultural, and national levels.
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Turning Rosh Hashanah Into an Opportunity
August 29, 2022
Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur worship services are among the most attended services of the year. That can be a challenge when the worship experiences are not the easiest entry points to Judaism, especially compared to the joyousness of Simchat Torah, the food and rituals of Hanukkah, or the sensory stimulation of Passover.