Yom Kippur Guide

During Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday also known as the Day of Atonement, adults are required to refrain from eating or drinking for a 25-hour period from one-half hour before sundown until nightfall the next day. By properly preparing your body for this "affliction of the soul," as it is known, you can reduce the pain and discomfort associated with the fast.

Yom Kippur is a Jewish holy day that takes place 10 days after Rosh Hashana (the Jewish New Year). Also known as the Day of Atonement, it is a time for introspection, prayer and forgiveness.

Yom Kippur is among the best-known and most-observed Jewish holidays, even among those Jews who do not describe themselves as religious. This day includes extensive prayer and a 25-hour fast, which many find challenging. However, it is not difficult to survive and even thrive during the long Yom Kippur fast if you are adequately prepared for it.

The Yom Kippur fast is an important part of observing this holy day. Because Yom Kippur is a day of self-denial, Jews abstain from the pleasure of food and focus instead on repentance.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. Occurring on the 10th day off the Hebrew month Tishrei, Yom Kippur is the final day for Jews to seek forgiveness of sins committed against people and God from the past year, and to be inscribed in the Book of Life for another year. The most important part of the day is the fast, a 25-hour period in which no food or drink is consumed.

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.

The Yom Kippur Eve Feast is the pre-fast meal and an important part of atonement. Eat the food with joy and acceptance that it's a time to forgive and be forgiven. These tips can make your meal enjoyable and your fast easier.

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.