A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
(Hebrew. ‘Day of Atonement’) Most holy day of the Jewish year. Yom Kippur takes place on Tishri 10 after the ten days of *penitence. It is a *fast day.
No work may be undertaken and no food or drink may be touched from sunset of *Kol Nidrei until twenty-five hours later. Services take place throughout the day in the *synagogue. In the days of the *Temple, Yom Kippur was the one day of the year when the *High Priest would enter the *Holy of Holies to *pray on behalf of the people. The *rabbis taught that the book of Judgment (see *BOOK OF LIFE) was finally closed on Yom Kippur so the day is spent praying for *forgiveness.
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