Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement.

Background
Yom Kippur is a time of repentance, when we ask people for forgiveness for any wrongs we have done to them during the past year. After doing this, on Yom Kippur we ask God’s forgiveness for those wrongdoings.

Customs
It is a day of complete fasting for those who are physically able to do so—no food or water from sundown Sunday through sundown Monday. This is so we can devote ourselves to prayer and self reflection.

It is also traditional to study the book of Jonah, for its message of tshuvah (repentance) and changing from bad to good.

Greetings
Since it is not a joyous day of celebration, there is no happy greeting specific for this day. Gut yontiff, gut yor, shana tova—good holiday, good year—are still appropriate.