Preserve the memory of your loved one with a plaque on our Yahrzeit Wall. Learn More ->

Search
Close this search box.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the High Priest effected atonement for the entire people through an elaborate ritual. Today, in the absence of the Temple, each of us stands, alone, together, naked as it were, before God. Yom Kippur is the dramatic culmination of the entire season of teshuvah, repentance. On Yom Kippur, Jews abstain from eating, drinking, bathing, sexual relations, and the wearing of leather (a sign of luxury) for 25 hours. Jews dress in white and traditionally spend most of the day in synagogue.

Latest Rituals

“A loving reminder / To hold myself with compassion”
close up of person's hands on their chest outdoors in sunlight
“we wander in the wilderness of our minds / Searching for the illusive path”
silhouette of woman standing before lake with dark trees in the background reflected in the lake. her arms are spread wide.
“Grief and memory hold hands / as, broken-hearted, we find our way through the Jewish year”
sign in hebrew that reads "yizkor" memorial - black letters on white stone
“Clear the channel; become hollow / as a bone”
sun in the sky shown from the perspective of looking straight up - sky is framed by tops of trees with green leaves and yellow leaves
“there is no book / no final decree”
dark photo of person walking through door with yellow light
“You are the blessed and the blessing”
multicolored sunset at the beach with person standing at the shore with arms open in silhouette
“Blessed burning of yahrzeit candle’
lit candle, thick and white, next to white petal on wood table against black background
“Your heart is noble, / The need is global”
black and white photo of people at a protest, one black/brown woman shown from behind with fist in the air, another black man in mask standing near her and another white person walking by on her other side
“the earth is my holiest holy”
light brown skinned woman with dark hair in pink t-shirt sitting in meditation position in brightly lit green field overlooking sunrise and mountains in the distance
“Who is responsible for my hurt?”
person wearing white shirt out in a field with palm on their own heart

The Reconstructionist Network

Serving as central organization of the Reconstructionist movement

Training the next generation of groundbreaking rabbis

Modeling respectful conversations on pressing Jewish issues

Curating original, Jewish rituals, and convening Jewish creatives

Join the Ritualwell community to explore rituals that will bring a sense of sacred awareness to your Thanksgiving table and into your everyday life!

Jewish practices provide us with valuable frameworks to foster awareness and joy through gratitude.

Get the latest from Ritualwell

Subscribe for the latest rituals, online learning opportunities, and unique Judaica finds from our store.

The Reconstructionist Network