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

“I didn’t fast on Yom Kippur / But I mended my relationship with my spouse and children by being present in the moment and honest about my feelings in a positive way…”
clouds in a bright blue sky
An original Al cheit prayer focused on reproductive rights
a person wearing a white tallit
“Today, do not take your hunger for granted, and likewise, do not take your food tomorrow as a given…”
a yellow butterfly
“May we never forget that we are all connected, historically, relationally, energetically, and that harm to one is harm to all.”
the sun is setting in an orange sky with purple sky on top of the orange. Wildflowers appear in the forefront of the sunset.
“I leave my safe haven / this night of purity and sighs”
close up of fig tree leaves and branches against blue sky
“there’s a message in my muscles but the pain is too loud for me to hear”
A silhouette of a person holding their arms against the sky, set against a body of water and sunset over mountains
“We signed on to a covenant: / If we take care of the earth / it will take care of us.”
A hazy view of fields with mountains in the disatnce
A water ritual for beginning the fast of Yom Kippur
White-skinned hands grasp a glass of blue water
“How do you steer this thing? / Which end is helm and which is the stern?”
small yellow boat
The sacrificial goat shares a nuanced view of this Yom Kippur tradition.
goat on mountain ledge

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