Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)*

Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the holiest holiday of the Jewish year. It is a day that reminds us of our sin and our need of atonement before a holy God. Since 70 A.D. there has been no temple at which to make the biblical sacrifices, and today, it is a time of seeking God’s forgiveness to ensure reconciliation with Him through the next year. Jewish people believe that on Rosh Hashanah, God writes in the Book of Life their fate for the coming year, and on Yom Kippur, He seals that fate. The days in between, known as the Ten Days of Awe, are one’s opportunity to alter that fate through repentance. The days leading up to Yom Kippur, then, are spent in reflection and repentance before God, seeking reconciliation with Him for the sins committed against Him and making amends for sins committed against people.