Yom Kippur is one of Judaism's biggest and most important Jewish holidays of the year. Yom Kippur literally means "Day of Atonement" occurs on the 10th day of Tishrei. Yom Kippur 2012 falls on Tuesday September 25.
On the day before Yom Kippur it is customary to wake early and perform a religious ceremony called kappores. Yom Kippur is the holies day of the year for Jewish people and central themes for the holiday are atonement and repentance.
Sometimes, a 25 hour period of fasting beginning before sunset on the evening before the holiday and ending at nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. Intense prayer is also often observed with many hours in a synagogue. Yom Kippur completes the yearly period of Yamin Nora'im or "Days of Awe."
Before the fasting begins it is customary to have a festive meal beforehand.
It is also customary for people to eat kreplach on the day before Yom Kippur. Kreplach are bits in dough and are often eaten in soup.
The Days of Awe are aimed a amending behavior and seeking forgiveness for wrong doings. The evening and day of Yom Kippur are set aside for public and private confessions of guilt.
Yom Kippur is complete with Sabbath, which means no work can be performed that day, traditionally. After Yom Kippur ends, Jews are required to recite or listen to Havdalah over wine before starting to eat after the fast. The Havdalah service declares the sepreation between holy and regular days.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
