Yom Kippur 2011: Dates, Prayers, Fasting, Customs Explained

Yom Kippur 2011 is observed on Oct. 7-8, 2011. Known as the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur falls on 10 Tishrei 5772 on the Hebrew calendar, which is from sundown on Oct. 7 to nightfall on Oct. 8.

The Day of Atonement is considered the most important day of the Jewish year, as evidenced by the synagogue attendance rate: More people go to temple on Yom Kippur than any other holiday.

Yom Kippur marks the end of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of teshuvah (Jewish reflection, repentance and return) that begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

During the Days of Awe, Jews seeks forgiveness from friends, family and co-workers, a process that begins with Tashlich, the symbolic casting off of sins that is traditionally observed on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah by throwing bread into a body of water. On Yom Kippur, Jews attempt to mend their relationships with God. This is done, in part, by reciting the Vidui, a public confession of sins. The holiday has the most extensive prayer schedule of the Hebrew calendar and arduous abstinence from food, drink, sexual intimacy and animal-based clothing, such as leather.

All major Jewish holidays, including Yom Kippur, consist of four main prayer services: Ma'ariv, Shacharit, Musaf and Mincha. Yom Kippur, though, is unique. It begins with Kol Nidre, a legal document that is hauntingly chanted and emotionally charged. The Book of Jonah is read during the afternoon prayer service on Yom Kippur day. The Day of Atonement is the only Jewish holiday that includes a fifth prayer service, called Ne'ilah, which is a final plea of repentance before the gates of heaven are said to close. The Ne'ilah service precedes the shofar blowing and the end of the fast.

Yom Kippur 2011 is especially unique -- and joyous -- because it falls on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath. Fasting is usually forbidden on the Sabbath, but Yom Kippur takes precedence over all other days -- it is called Shabbat Shabbaton, the Sabbath of Sabbaths -- and so the food-free piety is permitted.

While Yom Kippur is characterized by solemn fasting and marathon prayers of repentance, it is actually considered the most joyous day of the Jewish year because it commemorates God's forgiveness of the sin of the Golden Calf, the Israelites' slip into idolatry after the giving of the Ten Commandments, and is considered a time to spiritually start anew.

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Comments

[FDRinhell]

10:17 PM on 10/07/2011

Happy Yom Kippur my Jewish friends. I will always support Israel in its struggle against the savages that want to destroy it. Shalom!

[stacknef]

12:02 PM on 10/08/2011

'Happy" Yom Kippur is the wrong greeting my friend. Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and asking god to forgive us our transgressions and a fasting day...The greeting is "May your fast be easy".. However as it ends the Days of Awe beginning with Rosh Hashonnah, 10 days earlier, that greeting is "L'Shana Tova" or " Happy New Year" .

Shalom!

[FDRinhell]

04:11 PM on 10/08/2011

Pardon me. May your fast be easy. The Jewish people are always in my prayers. Shalom.

[Al91206]

04:18 PM on 10/07/2011

Organized religions and religious traditions interest me greatly, unfortunately many religious leaders and those that follow those religions make me regret my interest.

This info is fascinating. I wonder how long they fast?

[stacknef]

12:04 PM on 10/08/2011

One day, from sundown on Friday through Saturday sundown.

[mamala4]

02:15 PM on 10/06/2011

I'm Jewish and find your comment hypocritical and disgraceful...

[nathanovich]

06:35 PM on 10/06/2011

I'm not jewish and I'm with a jewish women. Idd your comment is totally hypocritical, we live in 2011 and you accept the fact that we live in a globalized world.

[MIKEinNYC]

02:12 PM on 10/05/2011

Happy Newish Jew Year and don't forget to start putting 5772 on your checks.

[stacknef]

12:06 PM on 10/08/2011

I never thought of that! I wonder how the bank would cash it if I wrote out 10 Tishrei 5772....LOL

[MIKEinNYC]

02:53 PM on 10/08/2011

The bank would be closed that day.

[MIKEinNYC]

02:10 PM on 10/05/2011

How come god gets credit and praise for the good stuff but never the blame for the bad stuff.

ie: Thank god that the little puppy was able to crawl out of the rubble unscathed. Too bad about the 3,000 people who perished. Who get's blamed for that? If god is so all-powerful how come she didn't prevent such tragedies?

[GraphicMatt]

02:17 PM on 10/05/2011

I would love to see a quarterback say just once "we'd have won the game, but then jebus made me fumble the ball."

[MIKEinNYC]

02:51 PM on 10/05/2011

You look suspiciously like levi aaron.

[myopinion2]

04:54 PM on 10/05/2011

I wish Sanchez would stop fumbling regardless of what he says.

And a little pressure on the QB would be appreciated.

Maybe i'll fast Saturday to prepare for Sunday's game.

[lezahgg]

11:48 AM on 10/05/2011

I don't expect everyone to be interested in the holidays of religions other than their own. What I do expect is for people to just skip over reading them just like they'd skip over any other article that doesn't interest them. It is disturbing to read such bigoted remarks in a publication like Huffington Post. I am Jewish and work with very few Jews and with very few people who have ever had that much interaction with Jews. Last week I took the day off to observe Rosh Hashana and many of the people I work with assumed I was taking off for Chanukah because that is the only holiday they know. I didn't take offense. That's how it is and I was glad to see this article because I have something to share with my colleagues that explains one of the High Holidays. Many of them are religious Christians and I know they will thank me for the article explaining one of my holidays because I don't work with "haters".

[eric0063]

04:41 PM on 10/06/2011

As a Christian I am very interested in the Jewish festivals... they hold deep meaning for Christians (at least those who take the time to study them). Keep sharing with your Christian colleagues!

I also share your disdain for comments left for the sole purpose of expressing bigotry and ignorance. But people tend to mock what they don't understand.

[UncleDale]

09:45 AM on 10/05/2011

98% of us in the U.S.Are not Jewish in religion,have no interest in being Jewish,don't care when the Jewish holidays are and don't care what the Jews eat on their religious holidays. The Huff Post doesn't carry stories on the Mormon religious holidays-or the Greek Orthodox religious holidays-even though we have plenty pf Mormons and people of Greek heritage in America. My local paper the Orlando Sentinel every year covers the major Jewish holidays and Jewish food for their holidays,but doesn't give such coverage to any other religion in the Orlando area.
Cease and desist.

[stacknef]

10:00 AM on 10/05/2011

and yet, you searched out and read the article and then complained about reading the article.

glutton for self punishment, perhaps?

[flaven]

10:04 AM on 10/05/2011

Wrong.

[UVA1983]

09:27 AM on 10/05/2011

You mean 5772.

[haval2]

09:40 AM on 10/05/2011

thanks. looks like proofreading is a dying art. F & F

[ellj]

01:20 AM on 10/05/2011

You don't seem to care much about grammar, either. Perhaps your lack of education contributes to your prejudice.

[PlyrHtrsAnonyms]

09:31 AM on 10/05/2011

Ahh, here is a fine example of the type of "non-judgmental" forgiveness we have come to expect from the "chosen" ones...lol

So not caring about holidays that affects barely 13M people is "prejudiced", but insults are just solid Jewry, eh?

[haval2]

09:41 AM on 10/05/2011

F & F for calling out the hater.

[Neal Frank]

09:37 AM on 10/05/2011

Hank Jr. is that you? Another redneck, anti-semite who can't write well.

[BurtonDesque]

08:10 PM on 10/04/2011

Why is Judaism so utterly overrepresented in the religion section of HP?

[jeffanie]

09:42 PM on 10/04/2011

Because it's major holidays are taking place. During Ramadan, there were tons of posts about Islam for the same reason. Check the archives for Christmas and Easter as well.

[BurtonDesque]

09:50 PM on 10/04/2011

No, these "major" holidays just mean that there are even MORE Judaic articles than the usual overabundance.

[smp65]

08:57 AM on 10/05/2011

Yes, I'm sure huff po goes into detail about the Easter tridium, Lent etc.....ah, yeah, sure.

[Cynth]

10:01 AM on 10/05/2011

Evidence, please. I see more articles on Christianity and general spirituality here than other religions, but actual numbers would be helpful when making statements like this.

[BurtonDesque]

01:39 PM on 10/05/2011

Simply count the number of articles on Judaism posted on a daily basis here. Then look at the percentage of Americans who are Jews. Do the math.

It's glaringly obvious really.

[Colonel Muttonfield]

07:53 PM on 10/04/2011

I feel the pains that were given, that I gave, on so many days of loss. And, there is no light to free me from these shadows which cage me. I know I should have been dead long ago and suspect that perhaps I did indeed die long ago. I cry out to God. I seek his consolation. But I know that he cannot help me. I have created my own prison in which I am the only prisoner and the only guard.

[gotcats]

01:08 AM on 10/05/2011

Gosh dude, you sound poetically sad! And on one thing you're absolutely wrong........He can and will help you! Read about David in the bible. God said he was a man after His own heart. God loved David even though David messed up over & over again. David even killed many people. The thing about David was that he always new when he messed up and asked God to forgive him which God did ALWAYS. And God blessed David abundantly!
We're living in an exciting time prophesy wise. The "Book" (God's word) is being unsealed.We are not only to be filling our lamps with oil (the mind of God) but storing it up in our vessels (within us) for when the Bridegroom comes.
I happen to be part of a small church that is paying attention to the Holy Ghost which is delivering oil to us daily. All God has ever asked of His people is to do what He asks of us.
If you'd like, I can send you a copy of our last Sundays lesson. See if you are one of the wise virgins or the foolish virgins. But sadly most do not think this is important. They think if they've been "born again" that they've got it made. We've been offered so much more than that.
If your post is from your heart and honest, your mind might be ripe for this truth.

[flaven]

10:08 AM on 10/05/2011

Good grief.

[Colonel Muttonfield]

01:31 PM on 10/05/2011

Yes, please post the lesson to me. I will certainly read it. Thank you for your kindness.

[Cindbird]

05:57 AM on 10/05/2011

Despair and guilt can shackle a human heart. Throw off the shackles and let the light of love re-enter and be born again, come back from the death-like shadows. You have not died, for only one alive can call out and seek consolation. Take the key of self-forgiveness, open the door, throw off the shackles and return to love and life. You draw breath, and so are worthy of light and love and compassion. May you have peace.

[Colonel Muttonfield]

01:45 PM on 10/05/2011

I have walked the earth long enough to see that this age is an age of searchers and discoverers. But many times both the grief and the beauty of that which is discovered is unbearable. In the end, it drives us to a deep despair, offering us for a momemnt the glimpse of an eternity that we should like to stretch out over the whole of time. But finding that it is impossible to grasp, we must bear with equanimity its loss. Yet, it haunts us as surely at the twilight haunts the evening. This absence from that which we once loved is worse than death and leaves us to wander through the emptiness of the deepest night of the soul. Long ago, I came to terms with my fate and I learned to subsist in the ruins of hope and the absence of true life among the living.