\yom Kippur is the most important and serious day in the Jewish calendar. It is called the Day of Atonement, which means a day for saying sorry, thinking about your actions, and asking for forgiveness. On this day, Jewish people reflect on the past year and try to make a fresh start, promising to do better in the future.
Historical Connection
Yom Kippur is linked to the story of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments. It reminds Jewish people to follow God’s laws and live their lives in the right way.
Fasting and Prayer
On Yom Kippur, Jewish people fast for 25 hours, which means they do not eat or drink anything. Fasting helps them focus on their spiritual life rather than their physical needs. Most of the day is spent in the synagogue, praying and taking part in special services.
Forgiveness and Reflection
Before Yom Kippur, Jews ask forgiveness from family, friends, and God for any mistakes they may have made. During the day, they think deeply about their actions, say sorry for wrongs, and make promises to improve in the coming year.
The Book of Life
Jewish tradition says that on Yom Kippur, God decides each person’s fate for the year ahead. Names are written in one of three books:
The Book of Life – for those who will have a good year
The Book of Death – for those who may face difficulties
The Book of Repentance – for those whose future is not yet decided
This belief encourages Jewish people to take responsibility for their actions, seek forgiveness, and commit to living a good, kind, and honest life.
📚 Key Terms:
Making things right with God after making mistakes (e.g., breaking mitzvot).
The person through whom God set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt, gave the Ten Commandments and made a covenant with Israel.
Communicating with God; listening to and speaking to God.
The mountain where Moses received the Law and where the covenant between God and Israel was made.
The place of public worship, also used for study and gathering. Literally means ‘coming together’.
Source of authority; religious and moral rules that were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
The Day of Atonement – a day of repentance and fasting on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah. The holiest day of the Jewish year.
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