suzubeane
10-01-2006, 03:59 PM
Last Christmastime, many people expressed a desire to know when the more significant Jewish Holidays were (since many non-Jews in the U.S. know mostly about the one fairly minor one that occurs nearest Christmas.) So here is another PSA for friends of Jews …
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins Sundown on September 21, 2007. It lasts one day.
I'm sorry I did not compose this earlier, because the holiday is about to begin, and I need to get going. Please forgive my liberal use of experting and linking!
From Jewish Virtual Library (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday4.html):
"Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq.
"The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, I mentioned the “books” in which G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.
"As I noted in Days of Awe, Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. That must all be done before Yom Kippur.
"Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes (Orthodox Jews routinely wear canvas sneakers under their dress clothes on Yom Kippur), and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur."
More at the link, and at Judasim 101 (http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm) and also at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_kippur). This site (http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/yomkippur/yksurvival2.html) includes information on "Teshuva" (repentance) and describes some of the introspective work that Jews are meant to do on Yom Kippur.
What to do: Continue to wish your Jewish friends a Happy New Year after Yom Kippur for a few days, or send a card. (Unlike Chanukah, sending New Year Greetings really is a long held tradition for Rosh Hashana amongst U.S. Jews.) I would encourage people to purchase cards that support a Jewish or other charitable cause if possible, and not Hallmark.
What to say: Yom Kippur is a solemn holiday, so "Happy Yom Kippur" is not appropriate. You can wish them a "light fast" tonight, and "Happy New Year" for a few days after the holiday.
What else: Yom Kippur is considered the most Holy day in the Jewish Calendar. Even very secular Jews tend to want to mark it somehow, so don't be afraid to let your Jewish friends know that YOU understand it's importance by wishing them a light fast, or acknowledging the day when they return to their regular schedules on Tuesday.
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins Sundown on September 21, 2007. It lasts one day.
I'm sorry I did not compose this earlier, because the holiday is about to begin, and I need to get going. Please forgive my liberal use of experting and linking!
From Jewish Virtual Library (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday4.html):
"Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq.
"The name “Yom Kippur” means “Day of Atonement,” and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to “afflict the soul,” to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, I mentioned the “books” in which G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.
"As I noted in Days of Awe, Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. That must all be done before Yom Kippur.
"Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes (Orthodox Jews routinely wear canvas sneakers under their dress clothes on Yom Kippur), and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur."
More at the link, and at Judasim 101 (http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm) and also at Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_kippur). This site (http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/yomkippur/yksurvival2.html) includes information on "Teshuva" (repentance) and describes some of the introspective work that Jews are meant to do on Yom Kippur.
What to do: Continue to wish your Jewish friends a Happy New Year after Yom Kippur for a few days, or send a card. (Unlike Chanukah, sending New Year Greetings really is a long held tradition for Rosh Hashana amongst U.S. Jews.) I would encourage people to purchase cards that support a Jewish or other charitable cause if possible, and not Hallmark.
What to say: Yom Kippur is a solemn holiday, so "Happy Yom Kippur" is not appropriate. You can wish them a "light fast" tonight, and "Happy New Year" for a few days after the holiday.
What else: Yom Kippur is considered the most Holy day in the Jewish Calendar. Even very secular Jews tend to want to mark it somehow, so don't be afraid to let your Jewish friends know that YOU understand it's importance by wishing them a light fast, or acknowledging the day when they return to their regular schedules on Tuesday.