The shofar, an ancient instrument made from a horn, is sounded on Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur יום כפור the Day of Atonement, comes ten days after Rosh Hashana ראש השנה (the 10th of Tishrei) which falls on Oct. 3 this year. In temple times, Yom Kippur יום כפור was a day of elaborate temple rituals performed by the high priest in the name of the people. The rituals and prayers were intended to repent for the people’s collective and individual wrongdoings and indiscretions that year. After the destruction of the second temple in 70 C.E., the setting shifted from a central temple to synagogues.
Today, Jews from around the world will spend this day in prayer and contemplation in synagogues. As one of the most culturally significant Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur יום כפור is observed by many secular Jews who may not observe other holidays.
In order to help us to focus our minds we fast for a 25 hour period, beginning at sundown the previous night and ending at sunset the night of Yom Kippur. Other restrictions of this holy day include other forms of pleasure such as bathing, wearing perfumes or make-up and wearing leather.
After a long day or reflection and contemplation, when the sun sets and the shofar sounds a final and piercing cry, we join friends and family for a festive and restorative break-fast meal.
The psalm below is well known to many people. It comes from the book of Kohelet קהלת (Ecclesiastes) and it is read as part of the Yom Kippur service. In keeping with the themes of this day, we meditate on our lives, our actions, our relationships and how we must strive to always be the best people we can be.
לַכֹּל זְמָן וְעֵת לְכָל חֵפֶץ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם
L’kol zman v’et Hefetz taHat shamayim
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
עֵת לָלֶדֶת וְעֵת לָמוּת עֵת לָטַעַת וְעֵת לַעֲקוֹר נָטוּעַ
et laledet v’et lamut v’et l’kor natu’a
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
עֵת לַהֲרוֹג וְעֵת לִרְפּוֹא עֵת לִפְרוֹץ וְעֵת לִבְנוֹת:
et laharog v’et lirpoh et lfrotz v’et livnot
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
עֵת לִבְכּוֹת וְעֵת לִשְׂחוֹק עֵת סְפוֹד וְעֵת רְקוֹד
et lvkot v’et lisHok et sfod v’et r’kod
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
עֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ אֲבָנִים וְעֵת כְּנוֹס אֲבָנִים עֵת לַחֲבוֹק וְעֵת לִרְחֹק מֵחַבֵּק
et l’hashliH avanim v’et k’nos avanim et l’Hbok v’et l’rHok meHabek
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
עֵת לְבַקֵּשׁ וְעֵת לְאַבֵּד עֵת לִשְׁמוֹר וְעֵת לְהַשְׁלִיךְ
et l’vakesh v’et l’abed et lishmor v’et l’hashliaH
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
עֵת לִקְרוֹעַ וְעֵת לִתְפּוֹר עֵת לַחֲשׁוֹת וְעֵת לְדַבֵּר
et likroa v’et litpor et laHshot v’et ledaber
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
עֵת לֶאֱהֹב וְעֵת לִשְׂנֹא עֵת מִלְחָמָה וְעֵת שָׁלוֹם
et le’ehov v’et lisnoh et milHama v’et shalom
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.
Kohelet 3:1-8
