All About The Day Of Atonement

By Patrick Peterson


This time of the year in the Hebrew calendar is a solemn occasion. The Day of Atonement is that part of the year to take stock of the year that has passed. It is found in the Bible in Leviticus.

Jews do not eat and are expected to fast if they are over the age of Barmitzvah and Batmitzvah. These two terms mean the following. A barmitzvah is when a boy becomes of age and the same goes for a batmitzvah for a girl. For a girl, she celebrates her batmitzvah at the age of twelve and a boy celebrates his barmitzvah at the age of thirteen.

When children have reached the age of twelve and thirteen for a girl and boy respectively it is time to fast when this time of year comes round and it is Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the Hebrew name given for this occasion. In the year prior to becoming a barmitzvah or batmitzvah, parents ensure that their children are ready to fast for the year to come and generally allow them to not eat up until lunchtime.

How they do this is to allow the child to fast, to not eat or drink, up until lunchtime. This is done prior to their coming of age whilst they are still eleven for a girl and twelve for a boy. All adult Jews fast on this day and it is about a twenty six hour fast.

The fast runs throughout the day and starts at sunset and goes on until it is dark around seven in the evening the following day. As said no food or drink is allowed. With this in mind, some Jews have a substantial supper before the fast.

A person can eat what they like prior to fasting. It is all a matter of choice and some will only have a light meal. Others make a big meal out of it and have meat, soup and a dessert of fruit. It's not set in stone.

The Hebrew Calendar is based on the lunar year and Yom Kippur falls in the month of Tishri. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the month which begins after sunset. This is derived from the Bible or Torah as it is referred to in Hebrew.

Jews of all ages attend Synagogue, a house of worship and spend the most part of the day and previous night praying and reflecting on the year that has passed. It is also known as the Day of Judgement. This is when it is said that all the souls of the world are judged according to the year that has passed.

It is a time when deeds from the previous year are scrutinized and reflected upon. How to improve oneself and what more one can do to benefit the world as a whole. It is said that each person's fate is also sealed as to who will die and who will live.

There are different parts to the Synagogue service throughout the day and Jews spend the whole day in Synagogue and follow the service. There is a section called Yizkor where those that have passed on are remembered. At the end of the day, the service concludes with the Neilah prayer when it is believed that the gates of heaven are open and a person has this time to pray for anything that he or she requires.




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