Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement on 10 Tishrei, fasting, and Jewish observance

Yom Kippur on 10 Tishrei is the Jewish Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, observed with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer.

The one-line summary

Day of Atonement on 10 Tishrei (Hebrew calendar), observed with a 25-hour fast, intensive prayer, and abstention from work. The culmination of the High Holy Days that begin with Rosh Hashanah ten days earlier.

Origin

Yom Kippur is described in the Torah (Leviticus 16) as the day when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem to atone for the sins of the people. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, the day evolved into the synagogue-centered observance of prayer and fasting that continues today.

How it is observed

The day begins with the Kol Nidre service on the evening before. The 25-hour fast (no food or water) starts at sundown. Day: five synagogue services (Maariv, Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha, Neilah), with the shofar sounded at the end of Neilah. Even after the fast breaks at sundown, the holiday observance continues until nightfall the following day.

Legal status

Yom Kippur is a public holiday in Israel, with schools closed, public transport halted, and most businesses closed. It is not a US federal holiday but is widely observed across the US Jewish community; many Jewish employees take time off for the day.

Where it is contested

Yom Kippur is broadly accepted. Discussions center on attendance (some Jews who are not otherwise observant attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, especially for Yizkor) and on fasting exceptions (pregnant women, people with diabetes, children below bar/bat mitzvah age). These have not produced any alteration of the holiday itself.

In other countries

Yom Kippur is observed by Jewish communities worldwide, especially in Israel, the US, France, the UK, Canada, Argentina, Russia, and South Africa. It is a public holiday in Israel; in other countries it is a religious observance rather than a civic day off.

Historical background

Yom Kippur (literally "Day of Atonement" in Hebrew) is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, observed on the 10th of Tishrei. The holiday concludes the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah. Yom Kippur is a 25-hour fast (from sundown the night before to nightfall the following day) marked by intensive prayer, repentance, and abstention from work, food, drink, and physical pleasures.

The biblical Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16) describes the High Priest's entry into the Holy of Holies in the Temple to perform the sacrificial rites for the atonement of the people. Two goats were selected - one as a sacrifice to God, the other as the scapegoat (Azazel) sent into the wilderness bearing the sins of the people. After the Temple's destruction in 70 CE, the rabbinical period substituted prayer and repentance for the Temple rites.

The Yom Kippur liturgy includes the Kol Nidre prayer (recited at the eve-of-Yom-Kippur service, with its distinctive melodic formula), the Vidui (confessional prayer recited multiple times throughout the day), the Avodah service (commemorating the Temple rites), and the Neilah service (the closing service as the day ends). The fast is broken with a light meal after the fast ends, often with bagels and lox, or in Sephardic tradition with sweets symbolizing a sweet new year.

Modern Yom Kippur practice

Modern Yom Kippur observance varies across Jewish denominations. Orthodox and many Conservative synagogues hold multiple services throughout the day (Mafternoon, Neilah), with extensive liturgical readings. Reform synagogues often have shorter, more accessible services but maintain the core structure. The day's fast is observed by all Jews aged 13 and older (except for pregnant women, the sick, and others with health exemptions).

The Yizkor memorial service (recited four times during the Jewish year) is observed on Yom Kippur, remembering deceased parents and relatives. The synagogue attendance on Yom Kippur is typically the highest of the year, even among Jews who do not regularly attend services. The solemnity of Yom Kippur is paired with the relief of the fast's ending (the "breaking of the fast" meal, often with bagels and other simple foods) and the renewal of the year ahead.

Additional context

The 2026 Yom Kippur falls on September 22-23 (beginning at sunset September 21). The fast lasts approximately 25 hours and is broken with the traditional post-fast meal, often featuring bagels, lox, and other simple foods. Many Jewish community organizations coordinate break-fast gatherings for those who would otherwise fast alone.

Contemporary Yom Kippur issues

Modern Yom Kippur observance has prompted discussions about synagogue access for those without tickets, Jewish identity for intermarried families, and the role of fasts in modern Jewish life. The COVID-19 pandemic affected 2020 Yom Kippur observances, with virtual services and outdoor minyanim. The 2023 conflict between Israel and Gaza prompted some synagogues to add special prayers for peace and hostage release during Yom Kippur services, reflecting the day's themes of repentance, judgment, and hope.

Yom Kippur by the numbers

Sources

• HebCal, Yom Kippur 2026: hebcal.com
• Chabad.org, Yom Kippur: chabad.org
• Wikipedia, "Yom Kippur": en.wikipedia.org

History of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is described in the Torah as a day of fasting and atonement for the sins of the Jewish people. The day's observance is described in Leviticus 16, which prescribes a ritual involving two goats: one sacrificed to God and the other sent into the wilderness as the "scapegoat" (the origin of the term).

After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the Yom Kippur ritual transformed into the synagogue-based observance that continues to this day. The day's liturgy is centred on the Kol Nidre prayer on the eve of Yom Kippur and the Yom Kippur day service including the Yizkor memorial service.

How Yom Kippur is observed

Yom Kippur is observed by a 25-hour fast from food and water, synagogue attendance, prayer, and abstention from work, leather shoes, bathing, perfumes, and marital relations. The day concludes with a single blast of the shofar (ram's horn), marking the end of the High Holiday period.

In Israel, Yom Kippur is a public holiday with widespread closure of businesses, transportation, and public services. Roads are typically empty of vehicles, and many families cycle through them. Yom Kippur is the most widely observed Jewish holiday, with synagogues operating at capacity.