Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur History

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, Hebrew: יום כיפור) is the last day to atone our sins of the Ten Days of Repentance, which start on the New Year (Rosh Hashanah). This is a fast mentioned in the Bible and the punishment mentioned for not keeping this fast is excommunication.

Jews seek to 'purify their souls' on this day, by abstaining from common pleasures. Yom Kippur is celebrated by most all Jewish denominations. It is a fast day from the eve until the next day nightfall (twenty five hours). No food or drink is permissible. It is a day on which Jews 'afflict the soul', which includes wearing only non-leather shoes, not combing one's hair and no marital relations.

For many Orthodox Jews, most of Yom Kippur is spent in prayer in the Synagogue. Five prayer services are held (as opposed to the normal three daily prayers).

Yom Kippur facts

• It is customary to eat a festive meal on the Eve of Yom Kippur with round challah bread, a meat meal and sustaining foods. One is not allowed to risk one's life and thus anyone in danger of life from fasting, including the young and sick are not allowed to fast. Yom Kippur is the only Jewish fast observed on a Sabbath, due to its importance.
• Yom Kippur Liturgy in Orthodox and most Traditional communities includes Kol Nidre prayer in which Jews annul all their vows and Avinu Malkeinu, 'Our father our King'.
• The Jewish tradition states that God inscribes each person's fate for the coming year into the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah, and the verdict is sealed on Yom Kippur.
• Mexico's Jewish community is estimated to be around 40,000 to 50,000 strong, primarily living in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
• By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Turkey began to settle in Mexico and established vibrant Jewish communities in places like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Puebla.

In the News and Trending in Mexico for Yom Kippur

Top things to do in Mexico for Yom Kippur

• Attend or watch a Yom Kippur service. You can watch a Yom Kippur service on Youtube.
• Learn about the Yom Kippur war. You can watch a documentary on the Yom Kippur war on YouTube.
• One of the main traditions of Yom Kippur is fasting, which is observed by many Jews in Mexico as a way to atone for their sins and cleanse their souls.
• Jewish individuals and families in Mexico may participate in Torah study sessions during the day, including reading and discussing the story of Jonah and the whale, which is read in synagogues on Yom Kippur.