A Brief Introduction to Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, which means the Day of Atonement in Hebrew, is seen as the most important holiday in Judaism and is practiced on the tenth day of Tishrei (the Hebrew month that corresponds to September or October). In 2026, the tenth day of Tishrei corresponds to September 21. 

According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, meaning that most observers make amends with God and ask for forgiveness during this holy day. However, this holiday is far more than just atonement — it carries with it a plethora of rich history, customs, and traditions, all of which we will explore in this article. 

History of Yom Kippur
According to tradition, the first Yom Kippur happened after the people of Israel left Egypt in around 1313 BCE. Having sinned by worshipping a golden calf, Moses, seen as the greatest prophet to ever live, ascended Mount Sinai and prayed to God for forgiveness. After spending a total of 80 days pleading for forgiveness, God granted the Israelites forgiveness. The day when Moses came down Mount Sinai after receiving forgiveness would become known forevermore as the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur. 

An illustration of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai. (public domain) 

In order to commemorate and remember this day, the High Priest (the supreme religious leader and chief of all priests in ancient Israel) began carrying out a tradition each year. Operating out of the Tabernacle, a portable home for God, the High Priest performed a special service, which included offering incense and performing a ritual with two goats where one was sacrificed and the other was sent out to the wilderness. 

However, amid growing persecution over the years including the destruction of Jewish temples, Yom Kippur transformed into a more decentralized ritual practiced by Jewish communities around the world. Nowadays, every single Jew can perform the Yom Kippur service in the “temple of his or her heart,” though formal congregations and synagogue gatherings are still abundant. 

How Yom Kippur is Observed

Serving as the most sacred day of the year, in Judaism, one of the most important traditions during the holiday is abstaining from work, which is viewed as counterproductive to the atonement the holiday is all about. 

A Jewish man blessing his family on the eve of Yom Kippur. Source: National Photo Collection of Israel

Instead, Jewish communities afflict themselves by avoiding the following five actions (apart from the sick, the elderly, and women who just gave birth), all of which are intended to help cleanse the body and prevent worshippers from focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts.

1. Eating or drinking 
2. Wearing leather shoes
3. Applying lotions or creams
4. Washing or bathing
5. Engaging in sexual relations

The day is generally spent in the synagogue, where five distinct prayer services are held:

1. Maariv, which includes the Kol Nidrei service, where participants annul personal vows and unfulfilled promises to God
2. Shacharit, the morning prayer, which includes a reading from Leviticus (the third of the Five Books of Moses) and the Yizkor memorial service, where participants pledge to give charity in honor of the deceased 
3. Musaf, which aims to remember the ancient Temple in Jerusalem 
4. Minchah, where participants read the Book of Jonah
5. Neilah, where the gates of heaven are metaphorically closed, representing completion and final repentance

A Maariv prayer in Tel Aviv, near a flea market shop. Source: Etan J. Tal

In general, Yom Kippur is a holiday all about asking God for forgiveness and introspection, or looking inward to examine your own consciousness. As such, it is common for participants to also recite Psalms, even during breaks. 

The End of Yom Kippur
At the end of the holiday and as night falls, the closing Neilah service ends with congregants erupting in joyous song and dance. Afterwards, it is customary for a single blast to be blown on the shofar, an ancient musical horn blown like a trumpet, and the proclamation, “Next year in Jerusalem,” to be made.

After the final Yom Kippur service, many Jews will often return home for a festive meal to commemorate the ending of the fast, known as a “break-fast.” During the break-fast, families and friends gather together at home or in communal spaces to share food and drink. However, eaten foods are generally light and easy-to-digest, as eating lots of food can upset an empty stomach. Examples include bagels, cream cheese, fruit, blintzes, a crepe-like pancake, and other baked goods. 

Examples of dishes often eaten during break-fasts after Yom Kippur, which include bagels, smoked fish, and blintzes. Source: the nosher

Bonus: Yom Kippur in Poem Format
With a variety of traditions and an extremely rich history, Yom Kippur is a holiday that takes real time and dedication to truly understand. However, poems serve as a great way to understand the essence of the holiday and what it means to most Jews. 

Coming Up On September, a poem written by acclaimed Jewish American Marge Piercy, perfectly captures the meaning of the holy holiday. Here is a short excerpt of its lines:

“The New Year is a great door
that stands across the evening
and Yom Kippur is the second door.
Between them are song and silence,
stone and clay pot
to be filled from within myself.”