A few days after the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish New Year is the most important holiday that Jews celebrate, Yom Kippur, which is also called the Day of Atonement. This day along with Rosh Hashana are called the Jewish High Holidays. On the Day of Atonement, most Jews do not eat or drink on this day or at least fast for a few hours.
| It starts at sunset on September 27, 2020, through September 28, 2020. |
Yom Kippur is a Jewish Fast Day and many people fast or do not eat or drink all day from sunset on September 27, 2020, through September 28, 2020.
| THE PRE-YOM KIPPUR FESTIVE MEAL |
In the early afternoon on September 27, 2020, families get together for the Pre-Yom Kippur meal. This is traditionally a festive holiday meal, replete with holiday foods, including (round) Challahs. Although this is a festive meal, it is not a religious meal and no holiday blessings are said. Fill yourself up because this is the last meal before the Fast Day.
| The Fast starts at sunset on Sunday, September 27, 2020, at 7:26 pm through Monday, September 28, 2020, ending that night at 7:24 pm. |
GIVE CHARITY
One of the traditions of the day before Yom Kippur is to give extra charity before the holiday.
MEMORIAL CANDLES ARE LIT
Some families light Yahrtzeit or Memorial candles to remember those who passed away. These special candles will burn through the night and the following day of the holiday and Fast Day.
THE FAST
Once the candles are lit, adults fast—they don’t eat or drink. Many Jews dress in White, the reason is that dressing in White reminds Jews of angels, so the White helps inspire them to be as pure and angelic as an angel. In addition, Jews do not wear leather shoes on this day. The reason is that Leather shoes symbolize comforts, and by limiting physical pleasure, we are sending a message to G-d that they are really serious about wanting to do good and wanting to atone for any sins of the previous year. The Fast ends at 7:24 pm on September 28, 2020.
| GET TIPS ON HOW TO FAST HERE |
THE PRAYERS
- Kol Nidrei is the official name of the prayers that usher in Yom Kippur. In this service Jews ask G-d to forgive them for any commitments that they made and did not keep throughout the year.
- Yizkor is called the Memorial Service where Jews remember their departed parents on Yom Kippur with the special Yizkor service during morning services.
- Neila & Final blowing of the Shofar occur at the very end of the Fast Day. During this service, all the people in the Synagogue or Temple say this prayer and the Shofar is blown again to officially end the Fast Day.
Jewish Holiday information provided by Leah Lang, the Director of Education at the Gan Camarillo Preschool in Camarillo, CA.
To learn more about the Jewish High Holidays, please visit the Rosh Hashana and Sukkot articles.
LIKE THIS ARTICLE: Sandy Springs Dunwoody Macaroni Kid is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville, Atlanta, and Perimeter. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. We proudly serve families in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chamblee, Doraville, Atlanta, and Perimeter! Sandy Springs Dunwoody Macaroni Kid is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar. Have an event you'd like submitted to our calendar for consideration? Submit an event here. Like what you see here and want to get all the fun delivered to your inbox weekly? Subscribe to our FREE weekly e-newsletter for 411 on the local family fun. You can find Sandy Springs Dunwoody Macaroni Kid on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
