Yom Kippur (redirected from Jom Kippur)

Yom Kippur [Heb.,=day of atonement], in Judaism, the most sacred holy day, falling on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishri (usually late September or early October). It is a day of fasting and prayer for forgiveness for sins committed during the year. Jews gather in synagogues on the Eve of Yom Kippur, when the fast begins, and return the following morning to continue confessing, doing penance, and praying for forgiveness. The most solemn of the prayers, Kol Nidre, is chanted on the Eve of Yom Kippur. Biblical origins are found in Leviticus, where the priestly ritual of atonement is described.

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Yom Kippur

 English Day of Atonement

Jewish religious holiday, observed on the 10th day of the lunar month of Tishri (in late September or early October). It concludes the 10 days of repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah. Its purpose is to purify the individual and community by forgiving the sins of others and by repenting one's own sins against God. Before the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, the high priest performed a sacrificial ceremony that concluded with the death of a scapegoat. Today it is marked by fasting and abstention from sex. Its eve, when the Kol Nidre is recited, and the entire day of Yom Kippur, are spent in prayer and meditation.

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Yom Kippur

an annual Jewish holiday celebrated on Tishri 10 as a day of fasting, on which prayers of penitence are recited in the synagogue throughout the day

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Yom Kippur

most sacred Hebrew holy day; the day of atonement. [Judaism: NCE, 182]

See : Penitence

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Yom Kippur

Between September 15 and October 13; Tishri 10

Also known as the Day of Atonement or Yom ha-Din, the Day of Judgment, Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn day in the Jewish calendar, and the last of the 10 High Holy Days, or Days of Penitence ( see Teshuvah), that begin with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is on this day that Jews acknowledge transgressions, repent through confession, then make atonement to God to obtain his forgiveness, with the hope of being inscribed in the Book of Life. It is not uncommon for Jews to spend the entire 24 hours at the synagogue, where five services are held.
Yom Kippur is a strict day of fasting; not even water may be taken from sundown to sundown. It is also a day of reconciliation for those who have done each other harm during the past year and a day of charity toward the less fortunate. It is the only fast day that is not postponed if it falls on the Sabbath.

CONTACTS:
Union for Reform Judaism
633 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017
212-650-4000; fax: 212-650-4169
www.urj.org
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
11 Broadway
New York, NY 10004
212-563-4000; fax: 212-564-9058
www.ou.org

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 699
BkFest-1937, p. 203
BkFestHolWrld-1970, p. 6
BkHolWrld-1986, Sep 28
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 246
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 1009
DictWrldRel-1989, pp. 65, 155, 390, 817
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 401
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 559
HolSymbols-2009, p. 1081
OxYear-1999, p. 726
RelHolCal-2004, p. 55
(c)