Yom Kippur is the “Day of Atonement”, the holiest day in Judaism. Celebrated 10 days after the first Rosh Hashanah celebration, it is a time of redemption and repentance that includes a variety of communal fun and activities. The date for the celebration of Yom Kippur in the Gregorian calendar changes every year, from mid-September to October. There are many traditions and rituals performed during this celebration, either before, after, or on Yom Kippur itself. Fun, after knowing the traditions carried out on that day, you can celebrate the Jewish holy day easily.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Carrying out the Traditions before Yom Kippur
Step 1. Pray to god and do repentance for 10 Days of Atonement
Ask God to forgive your sins and mistakes a week before Yom Kippur, otherwise known as the “10 Days of Atonement”. Although prayer and repentance should be practiced all the time, they become even more important during this period.
- The first step to repentance is admitting guilt. Remember and confess your sins while praying.
- Jews usually pray 3 times a day, namely in the morning, afternoon, and evening, when worship is held in the synagogue. There are many synagogues that perform the extra ritual of reading additional prayers in the 10 Days of Atonement.
- Also take extra time to read and study the Torah during this period.
Step 2. Ask forgiveness from people and forgive those who hurt you
Part of repentance during Yom Kippur is admitting your own faults, contacting the people you've hurt, and apologizing to them sincerely. At the same time, you must be willing to forgive those who have hurt you as a symbol of forgetting past grudges.
- If the other person still feels bad after you forgive him, forgiveness is in God's hands; You have repented by apologizing sincerely.
- If you hurt someone, be honest and sincere about what you did and explain how you feel about it. Keep that sincerity when apologizing.
Step 3. Give charity so that you are free from sin
Another way to atone for sins is to make a donation or charity to the synagogue. However, this deed is not merely a manifestation of goodness; your sins pass to the donation. In other words, donation will make you clean from sin.
- In Hebrew, this ritual is called “kapparos.”
- If you can't afford to donate money, there are plenty of people who donate their time instead. Volunteer at a nearby charity or anywhere else where you can help the needy.
Step 4. Perform the tashlikh ritual to cleanse yourself of sins
Tashlikh means "to throw away". This is a ritual of penance by throwing bread crumbs into the sea or large areas of water. The bread crumbs symbolize your sins so throwing them into the sea signifies that you threw all your sins there.
- You can perform the tashlikh ritual any time before Yom Kippur, but don't do it on Yom Kippur itself.
- Some traditions allow you to replace breadcrumbs with pebbles in the tashlikh ritual.
Step 5. Eat full the day before Yom Kippur and light the candles of the holy day
People fast during Yom Kippur. Therefore, the day before that day eat until you are full with your family twice, namely in the afternoon and evening. At the end of the second meal, ask a female family member to light a candle to signal the arrival of Yom Kippur.
- Yom Kippur officially comes after sunset that day. So, that's when you need to light the candle of the holy day.
- If there is no woman at home to light the candles, the head of the family may do so.
- For lunch, many Jews eat a large meal, including dishes such as vegetable soup, chicken, and a variety of potatoes. For dinner, the dishes served are usually high-carbohydrate dishes, such as processed eggs and whole grain bagels.
Method 2 of 2: Following Traditions on Yom Kippur
Step 1. Wear white clothes during Yom Kippur as a symbol of purity
Anything white can be worn, but some Jewish men generally wear a kittel, a white robe that is traditionally worn over bodies to be buried. Since white is a symbol of purity and Yom Kippur has the meaning of spiritual cleansing, the color is suitable for this holy day.
- Remember, whatever clothes you wear must not violate the restrictions laid down in the tradition of the Yom Kippur celebration.
- There are also many Jewish men who wear a special shawl to pray on Yom Kippur, the "tallit."
Step 2. Stay away from prohibitions on holy days
During Yom Kippur, there are several prohibitions observed by Jews to show repentance on the holy day. These prohibitions include using perfume or perfume on the body, bathing, wearing leather or other animal-based products, engaging in sexual activity, eating and drinking.
- Staying away from the prohibition is known as "hurting the soul" and becomes a symbol of one's repentance and servitude.
- Children and sick people who may experience serious problems while practicing the prohibition should not do so.
Step 3. Take time off from work so you can dedicate time to prayer
Yom Kippur is also known as “Mother of all Sabbaths”. So, the ban on working on the Sabbath also applies to that day. Spend your time in prayer, introspection, and repentance, ideally in a temple or synagogue.
One exception to the ban on work on Yom Kippur is the blowing of the Shofar trumpet, which is an instrument to signal the end of Yom Kippur
Step 4. Attend the reading of the 5 prayers in the synagogue
Due to its sacred status, Yom Kippur is the most popular day for visiting the temple for Jews. Some temples hold a ritual of reading 5 prayers a day (usually only 3) which is done in congregation with other followers of Judaism.
These prayers are known as “Maariv,” “Shacharit,” “Musaf,” “Minchah,” and “Neilah.” The Neilah ritual is held at sunset and marks the end of Yom Kippur
Step 5. Break your fast by eating a filling meal
Banquets at the end of Yom Kippur often feature a variety of delicious foods, such as bagelens, souffles, sweet kugels, various egg preparations, and cheeses. Many also serve dairy-based dishes (in lieu of meat-based dishes) because they are considered easier to digest on an empty stomach.
Bagelens with cream cheese and smoked salmon are a favorite of Jews in America and Israel, but Sephardic Jews usually eat sweet cakes and pancakes
Tips
- Judaism is a religion with many different traditions and rituals. You will likely find followers of the Jewish religion celebrating Yom Kippur in a different way.
- If you don't speak Hebrew, take this as an opportunity to learn! Having additional knowledge of the language can help you better appreciate and enjoy the holy day.
