How to Break the Fast of Yom Kippur
Properly breaking the fast for Yom Kippur requires caution in regards to your health, as well as strict adherence to religious traditions. While it is tempting to end the 25-hour fast with a large meal, it is actually highly recommended that you ease carefully back into your normal eating patterns in order to preserve the spiritual enlightenment and health benefits you may have received while fasting.
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Things You'll Need
- Dairy foods, such as cream cheese
- Eight to 10 8 oz. glasses of water
- Bread and honey
- Tea
- Cakes
Instructions
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Break the Fast of Yom Kippur
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1
Surround yourself with as many friends and family as possible when you break your fast after Yom Kippur. This is meant to be a serious yet joyful time, when you look forward to prosperity in the coming year.
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Start of by eating a small meal consisting mostly of dairy products, which is customary for breaking a Yom Kippur fast. Bagels and cream cheese are a common meal to break the fast, as well as tea and cake (which is popular in Israel). Bread and honey may also be used, which is symbolic for the sweetness of being forgiven for one's sins.
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3
Wait a few hours after you eat this small meal to ensure that you do not get sick. If your stomach does not become upset after the first meal, it is generally fine to resume eating normally.
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Drink plenty of water to make sure your body becomes rehydrated as soon as possible. Start with small sips at first, and then try to drink at least eight to 10 8 oz. glasses of water over the next 24 hours.
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Reflect upon the success of your fast and think about what you can do to make it easier next year. For instance, if you experienced headaches during Yom Kippur, you may want to reduce your intake of caffeine, tobacco and alcohol in the days leading up to the fast. If your hunger pangs were excessive, you might want to adjust the menu of the Seudah Mafseket ("last meal") to include foods that are higher in carbohydrates and lower in sodium.
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Tips & Warnings
If you find that you like the health benefits of fasting after Yom Kippur, you might want to think about fasting at regular intervals throughout the year. Many people incorporate fasting into a healthy lifestyle, since the detoxification can have a profound effect on both body and spirit. Check with your doctor to see if fasting is right for you.
