How to Prepare a Seudah Mafseket Before Yom Kippur

Seudah Mafseket, or "last meal," is the traditional Jewish feast that is celebrated just before Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. Jews are expected to fast from one-half hour before sundown until night falls the next day, so your Seudah Mafseket should be able to provide healthy yet simple sustenance. While there are a few food restrictions, you can still prepare a delicious meal on this day.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Foods appropriate for Seudah Mafseket, such as breads, rice, kreplach, fish and poultry

Prepare a Seudah Mafseket Before Yom Kippur

1. Decide which foods you are going to serve for Seudah Mafseket. Usually, rice and kreplach (dumpling) dishes are the more traditional choices, along with plenty of bread, since meat is not to be consumed on the day before Yom Kippur. Fish and poultry are considered appropriate, although more orthodox Jews prefer to confine those to a separate meal earlier in the day.

2. Put as little salt and seasoning into the food as possible. While you want to eat enough food to get you through the fasting period as safely as possible, the idea is to provide simple foods that aren't rich or extravagant. Heavily seasoned foods can also aggravate dehydration.

3. Avoid drinking too much alcohol during the Seudah Mafseket, since saying prayers while you are drunk is considered an abomination before God. It is also important to bless the bread, but not the wine, during this meal.

4. Restrict your intake of caffeine during the entire day, which can intensify the headaches you may experience during the fasting period of Yom Kippur.

5. Drink plenty of water during the day to help ready your body for Yom Kippur, since fasting can accelerate dehydration.

6. Choose to eat foods that are easy to digest, since you may be eating a larger than normal amount to prepare for Yom Kippur.

7. Recite both the Grace after Meals, and Psalm 126 upon completion of the Seudah Mafseket, which should be concluded at least 30 minutes before sundown. Psalm 126 is especially important, since it reaffirms that redemption has not yet taken place, and there is hard work ahead during the Day of Atonement.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to brush your teeth thoroughly after you complete Seudah Mafseket, since you won't be allowed to brush once Yom Kippur arrives.
• Yom Kippur requires that you fast for an entire day, so this meal provides your last chance to eat prior to this fasting period and should not be skipped for religious and health reasons.