Yom Kippur
National Holiday in Israel
Yom Kippur (day of atonement) is the Jewish day of repentance, considered to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year.
Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation. Eating, drinking, bathing, cosmetics, leather shoes, and conjugal relations are prohibited.
Fasting begins just before sundown (called 'tosephet' Yom Kippur, the 'addition' of fasting for a portion of the previous day is required by Jewish law), and ends after sunset the following day.
Prayer services begin with the prayer known as "Kol Nidre", which must be recited before sunset. Kol Nidre, Aramaic for "all vows," is a public annullment of all vows that will be made during the coming year.
Yom Kippur completes the penitential period of ten days that begins with New-Year's Day, the season of repentance and prayer; for though prayerful humiliation be acceptable at all times, it is thought to be peculiarly potent at that time.
The morning prayer service is preceded by litanies and petitions of forgiveness called selihot; On the Day of Atonement, many selihot are woven into the liturgy.
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