Yom Kippur, or ‘Day of Atonement‘ is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, and is marked with fasting, prayer, and repentance.
Check your local synagogue for service times here.
Yom Kippur is ushered in while it is still light out with a powerful and ancient prayer ‘Kol Nidrei,‘ and follows with a day of services before breaking the fast.
Given the restrictions of the day it could feel overwhelming and a day to be feared. Yet there is much more to Yom Kippur and its transformative potential, and attending synagogue is a priority for many Jews.
As Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen of Manchester Reform Synagogue writes in this article, much that is confessed is done as a congregation, taking responsibility for each other’s short comings, and sharing the burden as a community. But Yom Kippur has the potential to be a deeply meaningful process for us as individuals, taking hard work to begin the new year with more than a resolution to go to the gym. You can read more here.