Yom Kippur in 2025 will begin at sunset on Wednesday, October 1, and end at sunset on Thursday, October 2. It is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, known as the Day of Atonement, marked by a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer for forgiveness and reflection.
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur, meaning "Day of Atonement," is a solemn Jewish holiday dedicated to fasting, praying, and seeking forgiveness from God for sins committed over the past year. It is the final day of the Ten Days of Awe, which start with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). The day involves abstaining from food, drink, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and other physical comforts, focusing instead on prayer and introspection.
Observance and Traditions
The fast lasts about 25 hours, starting at sundown on October 1 and ending at nightfall the following day. It begins with the Kol Nidrei service and features repeated prayers of confession (Viddui). The day is spent mostly in synagogue, culminating in the Neilah prayer at sunset, which is seen as the last chance to appeal for divine forgiveness. Traditionally, families break the fast together at the end of the day.
This combination of fasting, prayer, and reflection makes Yom Kippur the most sacred and intensely observed holiday in Judaism.