The holiest day in Judaism, Yum Kippur – or the Day of Atonement – is the day in which according to Jewish religion one must repent one's sins from the past year, before his or her fates are decided on for the coming year.
Yom Kippur is marked on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, which is usually at the end of September or mid-October. According to the religious texts, Yom Kippur's date was derived from the day in which Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the Tables of the Covenant.
Confession, repentance and fasting are the holiday's main customs, as stated in the biblical text:
"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work – whether native-born or an alien living among you – because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance." (Leviticus 16:29-31)
"On this day atonement will be made for you" (Archive photo: Reuters)
The first of Yom Kippur's mitzvahs actually begins at the end of Rosh Hashana, when the 10 days of atonement begin. The High Holy Days climax at the traditional custom of kaparot, in which chickens are waved over a person's head before being slaughtered, symbolically transferring the person's sins onto the chicken.
Over the past few years, many choose to donate to charity as a symbol for redemption, instead of harming animals.
Along with the prayer inducting Yom Kippur, a ceremony of the "Untying of Vows" takes place, in which a special prayer released one from any vows made during the past year.
Total abstention from all manors of food and drink usually begins 30 minutes before sundown. An hour before the fasting, it is customary to have a meal - Seuda Mafseket – and light candles, just like on Shabbat. It is also customary to light memorial candles, symbolizing atonement for the sins of loved ones who died.
Along with repentance, the Jews were also ordered to "deny themselves". According to halachic rules, the five things one must deny oneself on Yum Kippur are food and drink, wearing leather garment and shoes, anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions, bathing and having intercourse. Work of any kind is also forbidden.
In keeping with the holiness of the day and by law, any radio or television broadcasts on Yom Kippur are forbidden, airports are shut down, public transportation is halted and all businesses are closed.
Traffic is not restricted by law per se, but with the exception of emergency vehicles only, is frowned upon.
The customary greeting for Yom Kippur is "May you be inscribed in the book of life."
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