YOM KIPPUR or the “Day of Atonement
is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish customs will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. The name Yom Kippur means “the Day of Atonement.” On this day, the rabbis teach that Yahweh seals our fate for the coming year and thus, the entire day is spent fasting and praying to Yahweh for forgiveness and a good year.
However, the rabbis also teach that Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and Yahweh. In order to atone for sins against another person, one must first seek reconciliation with the other person. These things must be done before Yom Kippur. It is customary in the days before Yom Kippur for Jews to seek out friends and family whom they have wronged and personally ask for their forgiveness.
In Leviticus 23:27-32, Yahweh describes Yom Kippur as a day of “complete rest.” Observances include not working, refraining from eating and typical and working activities for 25 hours beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur.
Modern-day Observances of Yom Kippur
Each individual Jew is supposed to focus on his personal avodah, or
service to the LORD. Most Yom Kippur prayers therefore revolve around the central theme of personal repentance and return (By Praying and Fasting.)
According to halakhah(i.e., Jewish law),
we must abstain from five forms of pleasures,
all based on reasoning from Leviticus 23:27:
1. Eating and drinking ( please consult medical doctor for restrictions)
2. Washing and bathing
3. Applying lotions or perfume
4. Wearing leather shoes (a sign of luxury)
5. Marital relations
By fasting and praying all day, we are said to resemble angels. By giving up the sensual
pleasures of life and refraining from melakha,
we are said to live for 25 hours as if we are
dead (many men wear kittels (white burial robes) and white raiment,woman wear hear coverings to remind them of
their fate as mortals before Yahweh).
The Torah refers to Yom Kippur as “shabbat shabbaton”
a time when all profane work (melakhah) is set aside so the soul could focus on the holiness of the LORD.
Erev Yom Kippur
Yahrzeit
Before sundown, in memory of parents who
are deceased, Yahrzeit candles are lit that
will burn throughout the 25 hours of Yom Kippur
. After this, two holiday candles are
kindled and blessed. This ceremony marks
the beginning of Yom Kippur, which means
no eating or drinking
from this point.
Blessed are You, LORD our Yahweh, King of the universe,
Who sanctified us with his
commandments, and commanded us to kindle the (sabbath and)
Yom Kippur candles.
Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-
olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav
ve-tsivanu le’hadlik ner (shel
shabbat v’shel) Yom Hakippurim.
Note:
If Yom Kippur coincides with Shabbat, the words in parentheses are added.
The Shehecheyanu Blessing
The Shehecheyanu blessing is said to thank Yahweh for enabling us to reach this season:
Blessed art thou, Lord our Yahweh, Master of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and has brought us to this special time.
Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,she-hecheyanu ve’ki-yemanu ve’higianu laz’man hazeh.
The Yom Kippur fast begins an hour before sundown on Tishri 9, and lasts for 25 hours, until an hour past sundown on Tishri 10 (Lev. 23:32). Unlike other holidays that last for two days(due to the uncertainty of the calendar), the sages only required the fast to last for one full day and night. The sages state that “afflicting the soul” (i.e., fasting, etc.) is not undertaken to punish ourselves for our sins, but rather to help us focus entirely on our spiritual side. Indeed the Hebrew word for used for “afflict” means to humble yourself…On Erev Yom Kippur, a special meal (seudah ha-mafseket) is usually prepared – the last meal before sundown – and certain erev Yom Kippur blessings are recited. This meal includes the holiday candle lighting blessing and the “Shehecheyanu.” A memorial candle (called yahrzeit) is often lit for deceased parents or grandparents, and women often wear white, while men wear “kittels” (white robes also used for burial shrouds).After eating, it is customary to wish everyone present a Tzom kal- an “easy fast” –
and to say G’mar chatimah tovah- “May you be sealed (in the Book of Life) for good.”
According to Jewish tradition, on Rosh Hashanah the destiny of the righteous (the tzaddikim) are written in the Book of Life, and the destiny of the wicked (the resha’im) are written in the Book of Death. However, many people (perhaps most people) will not be inscribed in either book, but have ten days – until Yom Kippur – to repent before sealing their fate. On Yom Kippur, then, a final appeal is made to Yahweh to be written in the Book of Life
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a day set apart in Yahweh’s calendar of appointments to deny yourself (deny the flesh), rest and pray—a perfect day to spend in the presence of the Lord, in intercession. As a member of the “Church,” we can ask Yahweh’s forgiveness on behalf of the legacy of hate toward Israel and the Jewish People in Yeshua’ Name and under the sign of the cross. And we can pray for Israel—the country and the People scattered throughout the earth. This is a time that a Jewish heart is tender and turned toward Yahweh in teshuvah--true repentance, seeking forgiveness and a fresh start. Pray that Yahweh will answer every sincere cry that goes up to Him!
It is customary to give increased charity on Erev Yom Kippur as charity helps to repeal any evil decrees.
- Sins committed against another person cannot be atoned for until one has first sought forgiveness from the person he/she has wronged. Even the great day of Yom Kippur or death cannot atone for sins against fellow man.Thus – it is customary to go visit (or at least call) friends, family, associates and any person whom one may have somehow wronged or spoken ill of in the past year and ask forgiveness.For example, any stolen objects must be returned to their rightful owners. Any person you have spoken Loshen Hara, evil gossip, about, should be asked for their forgiveness.
Shema Prayer
(Must be said) on the first evening of Yom Kippur
Hear O Israel, YHVH/(The-LORD) our Elohim/(God), YHVH/(The-LORD) is One. [Blessed be the Name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.] You shall love YHVH/(The-LORD) your Elohim/(God) with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
The Mourner’s Kaddish
(Must be said) on the first evening of Yom Kippur
Exalted and sanctified is God’s great name (Amen) in the world which He has created according to His will, and may He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen.
(Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity.)
May His great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity.
Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, elevated and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, (blessed be He) beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are spoken in the world; and say, Amen. (Amen.)
May there be great peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. (Amen.)
The Amidah Prayers
(Must be said) Both days of Yom Kippur
THE AMIDAH1. THE GOD OF HISTORY:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God and God of our
fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, the
great, mighty and revered God, the Most High God who bestows
lovingkindnesses, the creator of all things, who remembers the good deeds
of the patriarchs and in love will bring a redeemer to their children’s
children for his name’s sake. O king, helper, savior and shield.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the shield of Abraham.
2. THE GOD OF NATURE:
You, O Lord, are mighty forever, you revive the
dead, you have the power to save. [From the end of Sukkot until the eve
of Passover, insert: You cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall.]
You sustain the living with lovingkindness, you revive the dead with great
mercy, you support the falling, heal the sick, set free the bound and keep
faith with those who sleep in the dust. Who is like you, O doer of mighty
acts? Who resembles you, a king who puts to death and restores to life,
and causes salvation to flourish? And you are certain to revive the dead.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who revives the dead.
3. SANCTIFICATION OF GOD:
[Reader] We will sanctify your name in this world just as it is sanctified in the highest heavens, as it is written by your prophet: “And they call out to one another and say:
[Cong.] ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.'” [Isa. 6:3]
[Reader] Those facing them praise God saying:
[Cong.] “Blessed be the Presence of the LORD in his place.” [Ezek. 3:12]
[Reader] And in your Holy Words it is written, saying,
[Cong.] “The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah.” [Ps. 146:10]
[Reader] Throughout all generations we will declare your greatness, and to all eternity we will proclaim your holiness. Your praise, O our God, shall never depart from our mouth, for you are a great and holy God and King. Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God. You are holy, and your name is holy, and holy beings praise you daily. (Selah.) Blessed are you, O Lord, the holy God.
4. PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING:
You favor men with knowledge, and teach mortals understanding.
O favor us with the knowledge,
the understanding and the insight that come from you.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the gracious giver of knowledge.
5. FOR REPENTANCE:
Bring us back, O our father, to your Instruction;
draw us near, O our King, to your service;
and cause us to return to you in perfect repentance.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who delights in repentance.
6. FOR FORGIVENESS:
Forgive us, O our Father, for we have sinned;
pardon us, O our King, for we have transgressed; for you pardon and forgive.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who is merciful and always ready to forgive.
7. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTION:
Look upon our affliction and plead our cause,
and redeem us speedily for your name’s sake,
for you are a mighty redeemer.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the redeemer of Israel.
8. FOR HEALING:
Heal us, O Lord, and we will be healed;
save us and we will be saved, for you are our praise.
O grant a perfect healing to all our ailments,
for you, almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the healer of the sick of his people Israel.
9. FOR DELIVERANCE FROM WANT:
Bless this year for us, O Lord our God,
together with all the varieties of its produce, for our welfare.
Bestow ([from the 15th of Nissan insert:] dew and rain for) a blessing upon the
face of the earth. O satisfy us with your goodness, and bless our year
like the best of years.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses the years.
10. FOR GATHERING OF EXILES:
Sound the great shofar for our freedom,
raise the ensign to gather our exiles,
and gather us from the four corners of the earth.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who gathers the dispersed of his people Israel.
11. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS REIGN OF GOD:
Restore our judges as in former times,
and our counselors as at the beginning; and remove from us sorrow and
sighing. Reign over us, you alone, O Lord, with lovingkindness and
compassion, and clear us in judgment. Blessed are you, O Lord, the King
who loves righteousness and justice.
12. FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF APOSTATES AND
THE ENEMIES OF GOD:
Let there be no hope for slanderers,
and let all wickedness perish in an instant.
May all your enemies quickly be cut down,
and may you soon in our day uproot, crush, cast down
and humble the dominion of arrogance.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who smashes enemies and humbles the arrogant.
13. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND PROSELYTES:
May your compassion be stirred, O Lord our God,
towards the righteous, the pious, the elders of your people
the house of Israel, the remnant of their scholars, towards proselytes,
and towards us also. Grant a good reward to all who truly trust in your
name. Set our lot with them forever so that we may never be put to shame,
for we have put our trust in you.
Blessed are you, O Lord, the support and stay of the righteous.
14. FOR THE REBUILDING OF JERUSALEM:
Return in mercy to Jerusalem your city, and dwell in it as you have promised.
Rebuild it soon in our day as an eternal structure,
and quickly set up in it the throne of David.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who rebuilds Jerusalem.
15. FOR THE MESSIANIC KING:
Speedily cause the offspring of your servant David to flourish,
and let him be exalted by your saving power,
for we wait all day long for your salvation.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who causes salvation to flourish.
16. FOR THE ANSWERING OF PRAYER:
Hear our voice, O Lord our God; spare us and have pity on us.
Accept our prayer in mercy and with favor,
for you are a God who hears prayers and supplications.
O our King, do not turn us away from your presence empty-handed,
for you hear the prayers of your people Israel with compassion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayer.
17. FOR RESTORATION OF TEMPLE SERVICE:
Be pleased, O Lord our God, with your people Israel and with their prayers.
Restore the service to the inner sanctuary of your Temple,
and receive in love and with favor both the fire-offerings of Israel and their prayers.
May the worship of your people Israel always be acceptable to you.
And let our eyes behold your return in mercy to Zion.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who restores his divine presence to Zion.
18. THANKSGIVING FOR GOD’S UNFAILING MERCIES:
We give thanks to you that you are the Lord our God
and the God of our fathers forever and ever.
Through every generation you have been the rock of our lives, the shield
of our salvation. We will give you thanks and declare your praise for our
lives that are committed into your hands, for our souls that are entrusted
to you, for your miracles that are daily with us, and for your wonders and
your benefits that are with us at all times, evening, morning and noon.
O beneficent one, your mercies never fail; O merciful one,
your lovingkindnesses never cease. We have always put our hope in you.
For all these acts may your name be blessed and exalted continually,
O our King, forever and ever. Let every living thing give thanks to you and
praise your name in truth, O God, our salvation and our help. (Selah.)
Blessed are you, O Lord, whose Name is the Beneficent One,
and to whom it is fitting to give thanks.
19. FOR PEACE:
Grant peace, welfare, blessing, grace, lovingkindness and mercy to us
and to all Israel your people. Bless us, O our Father, one and
all, with the light of your countenance; for by the light of your
countenance you have given us, O Lord our God, a Torah of life,
lovingkindness and salvation, blessing, mercy, life and peace.
May it please you to bless your people Israel at all times
and in every hour with your peace.
Blessed are you, O Lord, who blesses his people Israel with peace.
It is customary on Yom Kippur to read
Lev. 16:1-34 and Num 29:7-11 and Isa. 57:14-58:14 and Rom. 3:21-26 and 2 Cor. 5:10-21
and also
Lev. 18:1-30
Prayers:
(Also use prayers through out the book of Psalms.)
All vows which we have made
To the forces of darkness,
All agreements,
All offerings of ourselves,
All unclean desires and secret promises
That we have vowed in our hearts,
That we have promised
In the hiddenness of our souls
To the evil one,
From last Yom Kippur to this Yom Kippur
For all of these, O Yahweh, we repent
And we offer all of them up to You
O Yahweh, on the altar of Your holiness.
And we beseech You, based on the grace
And based on the atoning blood
Of Yeshua our Messiah
To make them of no effect,
And shatter them
And pull them down
And destroy them,
And that You would crush
All the wicked schemes of Satan --
In our lives, in the lives of our families,
And in the lives of all the House of Israel.
And let everyone say, “Amen!”
For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.
And for the sin which we have committed before You
by hard-hardheartedness.
For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.
And for the sin which we have committed before You
with an utterance of the lips.
For the sin which we have committed before You with
immorality….
For all of these, Yahweh of pardon, pardon us, forgive
us.
O Lord our Yahweh and Yahweh of our fathers, we acknowledge to Thee that we
are sinners.
We have acted treasonably, aggressively and slanderously; We have acted
brazenly, viciously and fraudulently; We have acted willfully, scornfully
and obstinately;
We have acted perniciously, disdainfully and erratically. Turning away from
Thy good precepts and laws has not profited us. Thou art just in all that has
come upon us; Thou hast dealt truthfully, but we have acted wickedly. O
Thou Who
dwells on high, what can we say to Thee? Thou art in heaven,
what can we declare in Thy presence? Thou knowest whatever is open or
hidden. Thou knowest the mysteries of the universe and the dark secrets of
every living soul. Thou dost search all the inmost
chambers of man’s
conscience; nothing escapes Thee, nothing is hidden from Thy sight. We
thank Thee Lord that Thou hast provided atonement for all our
transgressions through the sacrifice of Y’shua haMoshiach, our Salvation.
{Specific listing of sins)
We thank Thee for Thy atonement, O Yahweh of forgiveness. Forgive us the
sins for which the early courts would inflict four kinds of death penalty:
stoning, burning, beheading, or strangling. Forgive us the breach of positive
commands and the breach of negative commands, whether or not they
involve an act, whether or not they are known to us. The sins known to us
we have already acknowledged to Thee; and those that are not known to us
are indeed well-known to You, as it is said: “What is hidden belongs to the
Lord Yahweh, but what is known concerns us and our children forever, that we
may observe all the commands of this Torah.” Thou art the Forgiver of
Israel, our Pardoner in every generation, and besides Thee we have no King
to pardon and forgive our sins.
O Lord open thou my lips that my mouth might declare Thy praise. Blessed
art Thou, O Lord our Yahweh, and Yahweh of our fathers; Yahweh of Abraham, Yahweh of
Isaac and Yahweh of Jacob; Great, Mighty and Revered Yahweh, Who bestows
loving kindness, and art Master of all things, W
ho hast graciously brought
the Redeemer, Y’shua haMoshiach, to provide our atonement; and wilt
graciously Save Israel for Thy Holy Names sake.
We thank Thee for life, O King Who delightest in life; we thank Thee for
inscribing us in the Lamb’s Book of Life, for the sake of Y’shua the Lamb
of Yahweh, Who taketh away our sins.
Our Yahweh and Yahweh of our fathers, may the remembrance of Messiah the Son
of David Thy servant ascend and come and be accepted before Thee for
deliverance and happiness, for grace, kindness
and mercy, for life and peace
on this Day of Atonement. Remember us this day, O Lord our Yahweh, for
happiness; be mindful of us for blessing.
Finally The final blast of the shofar is sounded
(i.e., tekiah gedolah),
the “great shofar,” to remind us how the shofar was
sounded to proclaim the Year of
Jubilee Year of freedom throughout the land (Lev. 25:9-10)
(Click here to hear the Shofar Sound)
It is finished!
Let the favor of the Lord our Yahweh
be upon us, and establish the work
of our hands upon us; yes, establish
the work of our hands.
La-shanah haba’ah bi-
yerushalayim ha’chadashah!
“Next year in the new Jerusalem!
”
“The LORD bless you and
keep you; the LORD make his
face to shine upon you and be
gracious to you; the LORD
lift up his countenance upon
you and give you peace.
TASHLIK
Tashlik, also spelled Tashlikh, or Tashlich, (Hebrew:“you will cast”)
A symbolic propitiatory rite that is celebrated traditionally on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah but can be observed anytime between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and that consists in assembling along a body of water (Lake or river or ocean),
reciting Micah 7:18–20
(18 Who is a God like you, pardoning the sin and overlooking the crimes of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in grace. 19 He will again have compassion on us, he will subdue our iniquities. You will throw all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 You will show truth to Ya’akov and grace to Avraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors since days of long ago.) and penitential prayers of confessing each of your sins to the lord and casting each individual sin on a rock or on a piece of bread, and shaking one’s garments as if casting one’s sins into the water to be washed or swept away.
(The Tashlik should be done once a year!)
At this point, people are generally quite relieved
that they have “made it” through the
Days of Awe, and a celebratory mood sets in (traditionally a time of courtship and
love follow this holiday). Since Sukkot is only five days away, it is common to begin planning to set up your sukkah for the upcoming holiday.