Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur (; , , or ), also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. "Yom" means "day" in Hebrew and "Kippur" comes from a root that means "to atone". Yom Kippur is usually expressed in English as "Day of Atonement". Yom Kippur is "the tenth day of [the] seventh month" (Tishrei) and is regarded as the
Atonement in Judaism Atonement in Judaism Atonement in Judaism is the process of causing a transgression to be forgiven or pardoned. In Rabbinic Judaism, atonement is achieved through repentance, which can be followed by some combination of the following: Which of these additions are required varies according to the severity of the sin, whether it was done willfully, in error, or under duress, whether it was against God alone or also against a fellow person, and whether the Temple service and ordained law courts are in existence or not. Repentance is needed in all cases of willful sin, and restitution is always required