JEWISH FAMILIES CELEBRATE YOM KIPPPUR OR THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

A few days after the Jewish Holiday of Rosh Hashanah and the Jewish New Year is the most important holiday that Jews celebrate, Yom Kippur, which is also called the Day of Atonement. This day along with Rosh Hashana are called the Jewish High Holidays. On the Day of Atonement, most Jews do not eat on this day or at least fast for a few hours.

This year the holiday starts at sunset on Friday October 3 at 6:19PM, and into Saturday October 4th ending that night at 7:13PM.

YOM KIPPUR EVENTS FOR KIDS OR TEENS

For Jewish adults, this holiday is a day of reflection, which include fasting and prayer services at their local Temple or Synagogue. The day before Yom Kippur many Jews eat a lot of food to sustain them for the Fasting Day ahead of them. 

GET TIPS ON HOW TO FAST HERE

In the early afternoon on Friday, October 3rd, families get together for the Pre-Yom Kippur meal. This is traditionally a festive holiday meal, replete with holiday foods, including (round) Challahs. Although this is a festive meal, it is not a religious meal and no holiday blessings are said. Fill yourself up because this is the last meal before the Fast Day. The Fast starts at 6:19PM on October 3rd.

GIVE CHARITY
One of the traditions of the day before Yom Kippur is to give extra charity before the holiday. Some local charities you can donate to is Chabad, FOOD Share, United Way, Big Brothers and the Jewish Federation.

MEMORIAL CANDLES ARE LIT

Some families light Yahrtzeit  or Memorial candles to remember those who passed away. These special candles will burn through the night and the following day of the holiday and Fast Day. You can often purchase these in the kosher Isle of Vons, Ralphs or Albertsons

Once the candles are lit, adults fast—they don’t eat or drink. Many Jews dress in White, the reason is that dressing in White reminds Jews of angels, so the White helps inspire them to be as pure and angelic as an angel. In addition Jews do not wear Leather shoes on this day. The reason is that Leather shoes symbolize comforts, and by limiting physical pleasure, we are sending a message to G-d that they are really serious about wanting to do good and wanting to atone for any sins of  the previous year.

Kol Nidrei is the official name of the prayers that usher in Yom Kippur. In this service Jews ask G-d to forgive them for any commitments that they made and did not keep throughout the year.  

Yizkor is called the Memorial Service where Jews remember their departed parents on Yom Kippur with the special Yizkor service during morning services. 

Neila & Final blowing of the Shofar occur at the very end of the Fast Day. During this service, all the people in the Synagogue or Temple say this prayer and the Shofar is blown again to officially end the Fast Day.

Here is a yummy Noodle Kugel Recipe,  from Macaroni Kid Publisher Mom, Merri Cohen, that you can make for the breaking of the Fast Day and end of the Yom Kippur Holiday:

           

Jewish Holiday information provided by Leah Lang, the Director of Education at the Gan Camarillo Preschool in Camarillo. You may contact her at leahlang@gmail.com  or visit Gan Camarillo Preschool's blog at www.gancamarillo.blogspot.com/ .