Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement (or Yom Kippur) is a day of reflection, fasting and rest. The day centres on atoning for sins. The instructions concerning this festival can be found in Leviticus 16:1-34 and Leviticus 23:26-32.

The Day of Atonement takes place on the tenth day of the month Tishrei (September/October). On this day, people should fast and they are not allowed to work.

The Hebrew name Yom Kippur is derived from the purification ritual whereby blood from a goat is sprinkled onto the “mercy seat” (the lid) of the Ark of the Covenant (Covenant Box). In this way, the transgressions of the people were “covered”, as a sign of the reconciliation between God and his people.
The high priest performed the ritual of the sin offering in the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle or in the Most Holy Place of the Temple in Jerusalem.
After the destruction of the second Temple in AD 70, this ritual could no longer be performed. Since then, the emphasis of the Day of Atonement has been on reflection, prayer and charitable giving.

In Jewish tradition the Day of Atonement has become the most important day in the calendar. People focus on contemplation, atoning for misdeeds and reconciliation with God and others. In the synagogue, the Bible book Jonah is read and the shofar is blown.
The Day of Atonement is the conclusion of a ten day period that starts with New Year (Rosh Hashanah). These days are called the “Days of Awe”. It is a period in which people look back on the year that has passed and make resolutions for the year ahead.