YOM KIPPUR WITHIN THE JEWISH TRADITION

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YOM KIPPUR WITHIN THE JEWISH TRADITION

• Lesley Klaff
• Jewish Orthodox Faith Advisor
• Faculty of Development and Society

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High Festivals

• Rosh Hashanah (New Year) 1st 2nd Tishri
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) 10th Tishri
• Tishri appropriate month for spiritual
  reflection
• The individual comes before his/her G-d
• Period touches on sin, repentance, and the ideal
  way of man on earth

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Ten Days of Penitence

• Rosh Hashanah starts period of ten days of
  penitence
• Yom Kippur 10th day climax of the high
  festival (the Sabbath of Sabbaths)
• Purpose of Yom Kippur Repentance to
  recognise our sins, to confess, to express
  regret, to be prepared to abandon the path of
  wrongdoing.
• Fast (biblical instruction Ye shall afflict your
  souls Lev. 23, 23-32)
• Date of fast eve of 10th Tishri until nightfall
  on 11th Tishri
• Seudah hamafseket the meal that starts the
  fast Eating and drinking on the eve of Yom
  Kippur are the equivalent of fasting on Yom
  Kippur (Berachot 8).

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Other Prohibitions on Yom Kippur

• The wearing of leather shoes
• Bathing
• Anointing oneself with oils
• Perfume/fragrance
• Makeup
• Carrying money
• Marital relations

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Services in the Synagogue

• Kol Nidrei (all vows) the evening service
  prayer formally abrogates all vows made during
  the past year obligations towards G-d only.
  Text originates from early medieval Spain.
• Before Kol Nidrei service custom bless ones
  children light festive candles light memorial
  candle which burns throughout Yom Kippur
• Kol Nidrei service commences with the opening
  of the Ark, the Rabbi carries the Torah scrolls
  to the centre of the synagogue, and recites Psalm
  9711 Light is sown to the righteous, and
  gladness for the upright in heart.
• End of Kol Nidrei service each congregant must
  pledge a sum of money for charity, Tzedakah (I
  command you to be open-handed towards your
  brothers and towards the poor and needy in the
  land. Deuteronomy 157 11)

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Services in the Synagogue

• Confessions (vidui) prayers for forgiveness
  recited for sins committed against G-d only
  transgressions against ones fellow must first be
  forgiven by the person wronged.
• 44 Sins listed
• each congregant must stand with head and body
  slightly bowed (contrition)
• with a clenched right fist each congregant must
  beat his/her heart at the mention of each For
  the sin

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Services in the Synagogue

• Avodah part of the Musaph / Mussaf or
  additional service is a record of the order
  of service in the sanctuary, which describes the
  Yom Kippur ritual of the High Priest and
  congregation as outlined in the Talmud. This was
  the one day in the year when the High Priest
  entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple, having
  studied all the details involved in the atonement
  ceremony. The vivid description of the avodah is
  couched in emotional terms and is chanted so as
  to stir the innermost feelings of the worshipper.
  Many congregants participate physically by
  kneeling during those sections that recall the
  High Priests ministrations in the sanctuary.
• Neilah Closure Ark opens and remains open.
  Prayers continue. Service ends with the blowing
  of the Shofar and the closing of the Ark.