New York – Jews To Mark ‘Yom Kippur’

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    Rabbi David Nisanov (R) strikes the back of a Jewish man as part of the "Malkot" ritual to atone for his sins for the Yom Kippur holiday in "Baba Tama" synagogue in Jerusalem October 7, 2011. Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, which starts at sundown today, is the holiest of Jewish holidays when observant Jews atone for the sins of the past year. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun New York – The highest of the High Holidays – Yom Kippur – is to begin on Friday night, and Jews around the world are completing their last preparations for the solemn day that ends the Ten Days of Penitence.

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    Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a Divinely-designated day that the Torah explains “will atone for you [plural] to purify you from all your sins before G-d.” Such atonement, however, must generally be accompanied by teshuvah, a process that must include introspection, admission of sins, remorse, and a commitment not to repeat them.

    One must also appease and ask forgiveness from those he has harmed or insulted over the year.

    The prayers for Yom Kippur, which begin with the Kol Nidre prayer said at night, then take up most of the day, are replete with the various concepts of teshuvah, as well as acknowledgement of G-d’s goodness in affording mortals this opportunity to exonerate and improve themselves. One of the dramatic prayers is a review of the High Priest’s preparations and one time yearly entering the Holy of Holies in the Temple, during which the each member of the congregation prostrates himself before G-d. There is also a piyyut, liturgical poem, recalling the ten martyrs killed by the Romans, one of whom was Rabbi Akiva.

    The fast begins just before sundown on Friday night, and ends some 25 hours later, after the special Ne’ilah (locking, signifying that the gates of heaven are to be locked at the end of the fast) prayer, said standing. At the prayer’s end, the Shma Yisrael – Hear O Israel the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One – is recited aloud by the entire congregation, followed by another two verses, including sevenfold loud repetition of the words “G-d is the Lord”.

    The end of the fast is signalled by a dramatic, lone shofar-blast and the immediate singing of “Next year in rebuilt Jerusalem”.

    In addition to eating and drinking, also forbidden on this day are wearing leather shoes, washing up, make-up and perfumes, and marital relations.

    The prohibitions notwithstanding, the day is considered a festive day, in that we celebrate G-d’s beneficence in going against natural law and allowing us to revoke and nullify our misdeeds. It is also a “day of friendship and love,” according to the prayer liturgy.

    The day before Yom Kippur, the 9th of the Jewish month of Tishrei, is also considered a special day, and we are required to eat and drink even more than we normally do. “Whoever eats and drinks on the 9th,” the Talmud states enigmatically, “is as [meritorious as] if he had fasted on both the 9th and the 10th.” The custom of kaparot is done on the 9th.

    May all our readers, advertisers, supporters, tipsters, all of Klall Yisroel have an easy fast, and be inscribed for a happy, healthy and blessed new year.


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    13 Comments
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    12 years ago

    A gut Gebentched Yahr, filled with simcha, good health, besoros tovos, parnassa Tova, and kol tuv.
    May we all have nachas from our children, and may we give nachas to Hashem Yisborach.
    May we celebrate next Yom Kippur with our Cohen Gadol in the Beis Hamikdash, Amen.

    Secular
    Secular
    12 years ago

    “The day before Yom Kippur, the 9th of the Jewish month of Tishrei, is also considered a special day, and we are required to eat and drink even more than we normally do. “Whoever eats and drinks on the 9th,” the Talmud states enigmatically, “is as [meritorious as] if he had fasted on both the 9th and the 10th.” “

    —wrong.

    There is NO mitzva to eat MORE than you are used to. The Mitzva the chachamim are refering to is the Mitzva of eating on the 9th and not fasting on it. As from a reading of the pasuk one might infer that one is obligated to fast on the ninth as well. But because of our Mesorah (tradition) we know that the fast is indeed only on the tenth, but begins on the previous evening, the 9th. Chachamim stress that point by stating “one who eats on the 9th is as if he fasted the 9th and 10th”.

    No mitzva of ‘Achilah Gassah’ No mitzva to be constantly Fressing.

    Gmar Cahsima Tova and an easy fast.

    12 years ago

    This Yom Kippur also marks the 38th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War; we should remember our fallen brethren (over 2,500) who gave their lives during that war, in defense of EY.

    Ahuvah54
    Ahuvah54
    12 years ago

    Gmar Chasimah Tovah to all.

    This picture is of something I have never, ever seen, and I am into my sixth decade of being Jewish.

    I think it’s not in great taste to post it on a blog that is visible to all.

    kjbjgirl
    kjbjgirl
    12 years ago

    Yom Kipur is a time of forgiveness. May we all be forgiven our sins, inscribed in the book of life, have a good and blessed year filled with happiness & joy. Gmar chasima tova! wishing you a easy and meaningful fast. 🙂 To my Family & Friends. There were probably many times this year when I may have disturbed you, troubled you, pestered you, irritated you, bugged you, or got on your nerves. So today I just wanted to tell you. Suck it up cupcake! There are NO CHANGES planned

    bucherel
    bucherel
    12 years ago

    B”H this year was a special great year for me since I became engaged this year, my Wedding will אי”ה take place the coming winter! Should the coming year also be as good as the past year was & EVERYBODY should only have simchas & be happy all year round!!!!
    Should we all be zoiche that this year should be the geula shleima & next year this time we should all be in ירושלים עיר הקודש
    P.S. Ur all invited to my Wedding, it will be my honor to greet u in person…..

    Member
    12 years ago

    I have never heard of this ritual where you strike the “sinners” back by a rabbi. This seems quite comical to me, really. I can not see the striking hurting. It seems a bit humiliating and truly, if you really want to atone for your sin, you should be giving to charity.

    yankelputz
    yankelputz
    12 years ago

    Conrad Doyle would say, no lash marks here, and the penitent is not wearing jewish 4 corners. This must be a symbolic act. So that the penitent can think to himself that he deserves true lashes, and get himself into the Yom Kippur mode.
    Also Doyle would like to see wear the penitents headcovering is/
    Watson blow up that picture please on the projector.
    Ah Gitte Kvittel to Klal Yisroel
    and to those that can’t get over the picture, perhaps you should think about it symbollically and work on improving yourselves.
    Yankelputz had it done this ever YK and it didn’t hurt!! And it helped get him into the mode.