How to Follow the Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is one of the holiest of all Jewish holidays. Lasting from 30 minutes before sundown until just after nightfall the next day, Yom Kippur is the time to ask for forgiveness for wrong-doings against both God and your fellow man. During this holiday, you must follow five additional prohibitions.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Follow the Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur

1. Refrain from all food and drink from 30 minutes before sundown until after nightfall the next day. During a pre-fast known as Seudah Mafseket (last meal), slowly digestible foods are consumed. Kreplach, rice, fish and poultry are consumed (but no meat). While all healthy adults are required to fast during Yom Kippur, children under the age of 9, and adults whose health might be jeopardized from fasting, are not required to participate.
   
   Rabbis formulated additional Yom Kippur customs besides fasting. The concept of self-denial was expanded in order to enhance inner spiritual awareness on the Jewish holiday.

2. Do not wear leather shoes during Yom Kippur. This is based upon the ancient practice of removing one's shoes before entering the temple. In addition, leather shoes are perceived to be comfortable, and one should forgo as many comforts as possible on the Day of Atonement.
   
   In Leviticus, the Torah commands to "afflict" oneself on the holiest of holy days to focus on the regret of committing wrong-doings or misdeeds.

3. Follow the third prohibition and do not bathe or wash during Yom Kippur. To prepare for Yom Kippur, a mikvah, or ritual bath, must be taken on the previous day. This is done to emulate the behavior of the angels in heaven, who do not eat, drink or bathe. Also, washing may be perceived as an attempt to cleanse the outside of the body, distracting from the inner cleansing needed during atonement.

4. Do not anoint yourself with oil during Yom Kippur. The more modern translation of this requires that you do not wear perfume, makeup or jewelry during the Day of Atonement. This is done to avoid reminding God of the Sin of the Golden Calf, where the Children of Israel worshipped an idol they had created while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments.

5. Finish following the five prohibitions of Yom Kippur by not engaging in marital relations. Sexual intercourse is deemed to distract the mind from focusing on spiritual matters to more earthly concerns.

Tips & Warnings

• Yom Kippur falls on the tenth day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, which usually occurs in September or October. Yom Kippur takes place 10 days after Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
• Try to avoid consuming any type of caffeine several days before Yom Kippur. This will help to reduce the chances of getting a headache during the fasting period.
• Pregnant women are exempt from fasting.

[handyblog]

on 9/29/2009 What a funny name!

[elyria]

on 9/28/2009 Great article!

[penmom]

on 9/28/2009 Very interesting. I was aware of some of the biblical references and never knew the significance for the Jewish religion. Thanks for educating us!

[GilinAtlanta]

on 9/28/2009 The Day of Atonement was instituted by Moses to be carried out in the place accorded by Jehovah. Later, in The Book we read that King David prayed in his psalm that "[God] does not desire sacrifice nor delight in burnt offering for the sins he committed with Bathsheba. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, [God] will not despise." "They (the Jewish people) shall look to Him whom they have pierced" (Zechariah 12:10) like the way their fathers did who had been bitten by poisonous serpents in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8). Those who looked then were saved from death; those who look to the One who came 2,000 years ago to die in their place and rise again the 3rd day will be saved as well! Moses wrote in Leviticus that "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin." (17:11)

[rlydia]

on 9/28/2009 Interesting and timely. Great article. 5*