Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement (transliterated from Hebrew as Yōm Kippūr), is the holiest day in Judaism and a central part of the High Holy Days. It falls annually on the 10th day of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar, typically in late September or early October in the Gregorian calendar. In 2025, Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 1, and ends at nightfall on Thursday.
The holiday’s roots are outlined in the Torah, particularly in Leviticus 16:1–34, Leviticus 23:26–32, and Numbers 29:7–11, where God instructs Moses to establish it as a day for atonement through fasting and abstaining from work. It’s traditionally linked to the day Moses descended from Mount Sinai with the second set of Tablets of the Law after the golden calf incident, symbolizing divine forgiveness.
Yom Kippur marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance, which begin with Rosh Hashanah. It’s a time for introspection, repentance (teshuva), and seeking atonement for sins committed over the past year. According to Jewish tradition, on this day, God finalizes each person’s fate for the coming year, as reflected in prayers like Unetanneh Tokef, which describes the sealing of the Book of Life. The focus is on moral purification, reconciliation with others and God, and fostering Jewish unity.
The day involves a 25-hour fast (from sunset to the following nightfall) and five ascetic prohibitions: no eating or drinking, no wearing leather shoes, no bathing or washing, no anointing with perfumes or lotions, and no marital relations. Work is strictly forbidden, akin to Shabbat restrictions. Fasting applies to boys over 13 and girls over 12, but is excused for health reasons under the principle of pikuach nefesh (saving a life).
Synagogue services are intensive, featuring five prayer sessions: Maariv (evening), Shacharit (morning), Musaf (additional), Mincha (afternoon), and Ne’ila (closing). Key elements include the Kol Nidre prayer (annulling vows), repeated confessions (Vidui), and recitations of the ancient Temple service (Avodah). Many wear white clothing, such as a kittel for Ashkenazi men, to symbolize purity and humility. The holiday concludes with a shofar blast.
The day before (Erev Yom Kippur) includes seeking forgiveness from others, a festive pre-fast meal (often with kreplach or lekach), and for some, immersion in a mikveh or the kapparot ritual (waving a chicken or money overhead as a symbolic atonement, then donating to charity). Families light memorial candles and exchange blessings. After the fast, breaking it often starts with light foods like tea, cake, or in Sephardic traditions, subiye (melon seed drink), followed by a meal.
Yom Kippur is observed by a wide range of Jews, including secular ones, with high synagogue attendance. In Israel, it’s a national holiday: no public transport runs, media broadcasts cease, and streets are quiet except for children biking or skating in secular areas. Globally, some athletes (e.g., Sandy Koufax) have famously skipped games to observe it. The UN recognizes it as an official holiday since 2016. In progressive denominations like Reconstructionist Judaism, emphasis may shift from sin to personal growth and intentions.
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