How to Celebrate Yom Kippur in Israel

It is the dream of many Jews to celebrate Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, in Israel at least once in their lives. Making this dream come true, however, can be quite a challenge, since literally millions of Jews have the same idea. By planning carefully, though, you should be able celebrate Yom Kippur in Israel and create memories that will last forever.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Travel itinerary
• Travel agent

Celebrate Yom Kippur in Israel

1. Plan your travel itinerary as far in advance as possible. Traveling to Israel during the high holidays (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur) may be extremely hectic, so you will need to arrange your flight plans and accommodations as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Use the services of a knowledgeable travel agent to help you find the best travel package.

2. Determine the city in which you want to spend Yom Kippur. Israel, as a whole, is surprisingly secular in nature, especially the larger cities such as Tel Aviv. While the mood clearly changes on Yom Kippur, you may want to select one of the "Jewish cities" for a more authentic experience.

3. Choose the right shul, or synagogue, to attend the prayer services throughout the day. Try to find a shul that is located close to where you are staying, since it will be next to impossible to find a taxi or bus on Yom Kippur. While most of the shuls will be crowded that day, visitors are always welcome during the Day of Atonement.

4. Be prepared for the fact that the Jewish cities in Israel shut down almost completely for Yom Kippur. There is no radio or television programming, with the exception of foreign broadcasts from surrounding countries and no public transportation. Few people drive their cars on Yom Kippur, the streets are filled with bicycle riders and all retail stores and restaurants are also closed. While the shutdown isn't as pronounced in the more secular and Christian cities, the effect is still very noticeable.

5. Take advantage of the quiet, reflective nature of Jewish cities during Yom Kippur to go on a long walk through the streets and see all of the sights.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care to observe Yom Kippur more strictly than usual, especially in regards to the Five Prohibitions, while in Israel. Even a large, mostly secular part of the population will take the time to celebrate Yom Kippur correctly, and you may find it easy to offend someone if you do not act properly.