The holiest holiday of the Jewish year began Friday night atsunset.
Rabbi Barry Weinstein of the B’Nai Israel Synagogue said YomKippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement, the last day of RoshHashanah. It begins at sunset on Sept. 25, and members of theJewish community attend temple services and repent for theirsins.
Johnny Fitzjarrell, a history junior, said temple servicestypically last about three hours.
It is a day for Jews to go to temple services and ask God forforgiveness for their sins, Fitzjarrell said.
Weinstein said the Jewish community goes to the synagogue to askGod for forgiveness of their sins, and personally address thepeople whom they have sinned against in the past year to ask fortheir forgiveness.
Fitzjarrell said Jews repent for their sins once a year.
Yom Kippur is a day of fasting which lasts from sunset tosunset, Weinstein said. Fitzjarrell said they are not allowed toeat or drink anything during that time.
“It is an important time to pray and seek forgiveness from Godand other people,” Weinstein said.
Yom Kippur is the highest holy day of the Jewish year, Kirshnersaid. Between the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur,God makes a decision about the fate of the people for the upcomingyear, said David Kirshner, associate professor of curriculum andinstruction.
“Yom Kippur is the final moment to intercede with God and atonefor your sins of the year,” Kirshner said.
Fitzjarrell said he attends Yom Kippur services because it isthe most important of the Jewish holidays.
Weinstein said a shofar, a hollowed out ram’s horn, is soundedat sunset. It calls people to repentance, and is a major part ofthe ceremony, he said.
“We throw bread into a lake, a sign of casting their sins awayso God can put us in the Book of Life,” Fitzjarrell said.
Weinstein said there is a special meal before both Rosh Hashanahand Yom Kippur.
At the end of Yom Kippur, there is a “break fast” at sunset,Weinstein said.
Kirshner said the “break fast” is a big meal served at thesynagogue at the end of the holiday.
“It was a tradition in my family when I was a kid to fast duringthe day of Yom Kippur from sunset to sunset and end the day with afamily meal or party,” Kirshner said.
Fitzjarrell said it is a tradition in his family to have a bigparty to celebrate the end of the holiday.
“We always invite students from the University to come worshipwith us,” Weinstein said. “The door is always open to them.”