Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls nine days after Rosh Hashanah and concludes the Ten Days of Awe (Yamim Nora’im). Yom Kippur is a solemn day of prayer and fasting on which Jewish people pray for spiritual purification from past transgressions.  

Those of the Jewish faith believe it is on this day that God decides each person’s fate. Jewish people observe Yom Kippur with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer at a special synagogue service as they ask God to forgive any sins committed over the past year.  

In the Jewish faith, it is believed that shortly after the Israelites fled Egypt, they worshiped a golden calf, which is a sin. This led Moses to climb Mt. Sinai to beg for God’s forgiveness for the Israelites. It was granted after two 40-day periods atop the mountain. Yom Kippur recognizes the day that Moses descended the mountain upon achieving the Divine Favor for his people. 

According to the Torah, the story of creation in Genesis reads, “And it was evening, and it was morning day one”, “And it was evening, and it was morning; the second day”, therefore night comes before day. So, for the Jewish calendar all days begin at nightfall and end the next day at nightfall including holidays. 

In 2026, Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sunday, September 20, and ends at nightfall the following evening, September 21. Since Yom Kippur is the most solemn day, many Jewish people do not go to work or school. Using anything electronic is prohibited. In addition to abstaining from food, traditional Jewish observance of the fast includes abstaining from water. Many Jewish people avoid using water to brush their teeth or take non-essential medicines, to comply with this prohibition.   

Erev [the evening of] Yom Kippur is the only night of the entire Jewish calendar when a tallit (prayer shawl) is worn in the evening. It is traditional to wear a tallit or a white garment for the whole of the holiday, the color white symbolizing both spiritual purity and withdrawal from the vanities of this world. At the end of Yom Kippur, Jewish families gather for a celebratory meal to break their fast. 

When greeting a friend during Yom Kippur, please wish them a meaningful Yom Kippur, a good holy day, or an easy fast.  

Try this favorite Yom Kippur recipe:

Speedy Vegan Challah  

Ingredients 

  • 300 grams Strong White Flour 
  • 7 grams Instant Dry Yeast  (1 sachet) 
  • ½ teaspoon Salt 
  • 2 tablespoons Sugar 
  • 3 tablespoo Olive Oil 
  • 150 milliliters Warm Water 
  • 4 tablespoons Plant-Based Milk  (ex. oat milk, optional) 
  • 4 tablespoons Seeds Of Your Choice  (optional) 

Directions  

  • Weigh out all ingredients including dry yeast straight into the mixer. Turn it on and mix for 10 minutes.  
  • Cover the bowl and put in a warm place. Put mixer away, wipe down surfaces, line baking sheets etc. 10 minutes (or less). 
  • Remove dough from bowl, knead very briefly. Cut into two roughly equal pieces. Divide and shape each piece into a challah. Transfer to baking sheet. 15 minutes.  
  • Set oven to 200°C. Brush loaves with plant-based milk and sprinkle with seeds while oven heats up. 10 minutes.  
  • Bake challah for 15 minutes. 

Total time: 60 minutes