Rosh HaShanah has passed. So have the ten days of repentance between then and today, Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. One interpretation of this practice fits with the theme of the day—atoning. There are two kinds of sins: sins you commit against another person, and sins you commit against G-d. Before you can stand before G-d and ask for forgiveness for the sins committed against G-d, you must ask for forgiveness from the people you have sinned against. But what is Yom Kippur 2018 all about?
This is a really meaningful process for people. It is certainly not easy for people to say sorry, especially for the entire year. It certainly takes time to reflect on all the event that occurred throughout the year. So we take ten days to reflect on the previous year, and say sorry to the people we have hurt, we have insulted, and we have humiliated.
The Day Before Yom Kippur
The day before Yom Kippur 2018 is a significant one. In the morning we only say the Viduy prayer once instead of the customary three times because we will say it two times more throughout the day.
Some Jews practice Kapparot throughout the day before. It literally means “expiation [of sin]. What happens during this ritual? Reciting verses of Psalm 107 and Job 33
- A person takes a live fowl by the feet, swings it over his head three times saying, “ This is my atonement, this is my ransom, this is my substitute.”
- The person then slaughters the fowl.
- Lastly, the person performing the ritual gives the fowl or its value in money to the poor.
The act transfers the person’s sins to the fowl, thereby making it more likely that person would be inscribed in the Book of Life. The origins of this practice come from the Temple custom of taking a scapegoat.
Joseph Caro, author of Jewish law code Shulhan Aruch, rejected this practice as pagan and so it is not practice by most Sephardic Jews. Today, only small communities of Ultra- Orthodox actually practice this ritual. Other communities perform the practice with money instead of a live animal.
It is also customary to immerse in a mikve, or a ritual bath, during the afternoon before Yom Kippur.
In the evening Jews light candles, thereby putting the prohibitions of Yom Kippur into place. Some Ashkenazi men wear a kitl, or a white shroud, to evening services.
What actually happens on Yom Kippur?
Again, what is Yom Kippur 2018 all about? Yom Kippur commemorates the day when Moses came down from Mount Sinai for the second time, showing the people that the sin of the Golden Calf had been forgiven (Exodus 34:29-35).
The Torah mentions the instructions for Yom Kippur three times in the Torah: twice in Leviticus (16:29-34; 23:26-32), and then again in Numbers. From sunset to dark the next day:
- It is forbidden to eat and to drink. (However, the sick and pregnant women are allowed to eat).
- We can not wear leather shoes.
- It is forbidden to use creams, lotions, and perfume.
- We are not allowed to bathe, or wash.
- It is forbidden to engage in sexual relations.
Israel shuts down completely- television channels don’t even work. In the United States, many Jews will rest at home when not at services.
Kol Nidre
What about right before the holiday begins? What is Yom Kippur 2018 all about then? The evening prayers of Yom Kippur 2018 begin with Kol Nidre. It is a service mostly written in Aramaic, and means “all vows.” It is in a way a last chance of Hatarat nedarim, the “cancellation of vows” from the previous year.
The Reform Jewish community removed the Kol Nidre from the services from the mid-nineteenth century to 1961. Later Reform Judaism brought back the popular prayer.
At the end of the Kol Nidre services, congregents take out Torah scrolls. Some congregations take out three Torah scrolls, others take out seven. Seven exists in Kabbalistic thought as the seven heavens between humans and G-d.
During the following evening services, Jews say the entire Shema prayer out loud. Throughout the year, we say the second line “Blessed be the name of G-d’s glorious kingdom forever” quietly. A reason for why we say it entirely out loud it that Moses heard this line from the mouths of the angels when he was on Mount Sinai.
When he came down the mountain and related to what happened the Israelites treated it like a stolen jewel to be kept hush. But on Yom Kippur, we are like angels and can show it off.
The morning of Yom Kippur
What is Yom Kippur 2018 all about in the morning? The morning service is very long, so many congregations start early in order to start the next service by 1:00 pm. It begins with concentrating on G-d’s generosity. It also includes the yizkor prayer. The recalling of the souls of the dead is in the belief in the eternity of the soul, which after death rises to the spirit realm. There it attains a higher level of holiness.
On Yom Kippur, those who have not lost parents leave the synagogue, and they return when the congregation recites the general memorial prayer.
After morning prayers, afternoon services begin. We read the Torah and the Haftarah portions. The Torah portion is Leviticus 18; the Haftarah is the entire Book of Jonah and three verses from Micah (7:18- 20).
Neilah, the last prayers of Yom Kippur
Neilah is the last service of five on Yom Kippur. The word Neilah means “closing” or “locking up.” As you may suspect from the English translation, it is the last appeal to G-d that we are written in the Book of Life before the Book is sealed.
It is a last chance to get a good seal for the upcoming year, so people are really going to pray hard.
Concluding Yom Kippur
What is Yom Kippur 2018 all about when we finish the holiday? Yom Kippur is going to end with an evening service and a Havdalah service. There will be an extra focus on repentance, forgiveness, redemption, health, prosperity, ingathering of exiles, and restoration of justice.
The Havdalah service uses the candle from the holiday, and not a braided candle.
It is customary to begin preparing for the holiday of Sukkot once Yom Kippur 2018 is over.
So, what is Yom Kippur 2018 all about?
This past year has been a tough one. A year when the conflict in Syria killed thousands and displaced thousands more. No one is sure what the outcome of the war will be. Underground organizations traffic women. Hatred is at a high around the world. Many do not listen to what the other is saying, to busy preparing an answer that fits their perspectives. No one is slowing doing environmental destruction.
What are we doing to stop all of this? What are we doing to create peace and understanding in the world? Why aren’t we helping our fellow human being?
Yom Kippur 2018 is a day where we can reflect on these questions, and hopefully find some answers before it is too late.
Wishes for all of you on Yom Kippur 2018
But else what is Yom Kippur 2018 all about? My wishes for all those who read this are this:
- I wish everyone a year of success, joy, and love.
- May everyone be written in the Book of Life.
- Let’s work toward improving ourselves, our relationships, our communities, and our world!
- Finally, I hope everyone simply has a good and happy new year.
In the end, what is Yom Kippur 2018 all about? Having a meaningful Yom Kippur 2018!!
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