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Yom Kippur Crafts
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most sacred of the Jewish holidays, the "Sabbath of Sabbaths."
Yom Kippur begins when the first of Elul have passed. On Rosh Hashanah God has judged most of mankind and has recorded his judgement in the Book of Life. But he has given a 10 day reprieve.
On Yom Kippur the Book of Life is closed and sealed. Those that have repented for their sins are granted a good, happy and safe New Year.
Yom Kippur is the day to ask forgiveness for promises broken to God, the day before is reserved for asking forgiveness for broken promises between people.
Yom Kippur is a day for doing nothing. The Jewish people may not eat or drink, as fasting is the rule. It is believed that to fast on Yom Kippur is to imitate the angels in heaven.
The Five Prohibitions of Yom Kippur:
Yom Kippur is devoted to fasting, while the day before is devoted to eating. According to the Talmud, the person "who eats on the ninth of Tishri (and fasts on the tenth), it is as if he had fasted both the ninth and tenth." Prayer is also down played so that Jews can concentrate on eating and preparing for the fast.
An important part of the Yom Kippur service is the "Vidui" (Viduy) or confession. Because community and unity are an important part of Jewish life, the confessions are said in the plural (We are guilty).
As Yom Kippur ends, at the last hour a service called "Ne'ila" offers a final opportunity for repentance. It is the only service of the year during which the doors where the Torah scrolls are stored (the Ark) remain open from the beginning to end of the service, signifying that the gates of heaven are open at this time.
The service closes with the verse, said 7 times, "The Lord is our God." The Shofar is sounded once and the congregation proclaim -- "Next year in Jerusalem."
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