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Shabbat Times

Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement)

 is one of two Jewish High Holy Days. The first High Holy Day is Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Yom Kippur falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah on the 10th of Tishrei, which is a Hebrew month that correlates with September-October on the secular calendar. The purpose of Yom Kippur is to bring about reconciliation between people and between individuals and God. According to Jewish tradition, it is also the day when God decides the fate of each human being.

Although Yom Kippur is an intense holiday it is nevertheless viewed as a happy day. Why? Because if one has observed the holiday properly by the end of Yom Kippur they will have made peace with others and with God.

There are three essential components of Yom Kippur:

1. Repentance
2. Prayer
3. Fasting 

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Days before the Fast

•Stop eating foods with high caffeine and sugar content.
•Begin drinking more water than usual.

The Day before the Fast

•Eat something small every two hours (nosh).
•Avoid foods with caffeine and salt.
•Drink plenty of water.

The Meal before the Fast (Seudat Mafseket)

•Plan the menu of this final meal so that it contains high carbohydrate and low salt foods.
•Sit down for the final meal before the fast at least an hour before the fast begins so there is no rush to eat quickly.
•Do not eat too much in the meal before the fast, but drink plenty of water.
•Leave time after the meal and before the fast to drink warm water with sugar and brush teeth.