Yom Kippur
This is the most solemn day in the Jewish year. Yom Kippur means Day of Atonement. During the 10 days that have passed since the Jewish New Year, Jews have had a last chance to repent for any sins they have committed and ask for divine forgiveness.
The holiday – not a celebration but a holy day – starts at dusk. By that time, Jews who observe Yom Kippur will have eaten their evening meal, which is the last food or drink they are allowed until the following nightfall, 25 hours later. During that time they don't work but go to synagogue. On this day the synagogues are crowded with people, many of whom don't go at any other time of the year.
The evening service, with which Yom Kippur opens, is called Kol Nidre. The final service, the following evening, ends with a long blast of the shofar – a ram's horn – which is mentioned frequently in the Old Testament. The shofars used in the synagogue today are identical to those of biblical times.
Five days later, in contrast to the seriousness of Yom Kippur, Jews celebrate Sukkot, the harvest festival. To commemorate the temporary homes in which the Hebrews lived during their 40 years wandering in the desert after their escape from slavery in Egypt, many Jews build a huts with leaves over the top, through which they can see the sky, and eat all their meals there.
A prayer of rejoicing is said while holding four species of plant: an etrog (a citrus fruit native to Israel), a palm branch, two willow branches and three myrtle branches.
At the end of Succot comes Simkhat Torah, a joyful festival signifying the end of the yearly cycle of reading the Five Books of Moses (the Torah) in the synagogue.
