The High Holy Day of Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the biblical year, in which God gives the command to “afflict your souls” in order to atone for sins (see Lev. 23:26–32). It is the day in which we are closest to God; a time of spiritual cleansing; a solemn day of fasting and prayer, repentance and forgiveness. It is also a day in which an undertone of joy is felt in knowing that God forgives His people, and will grant a year of life, goodness, health, and happiness. Confidence can be felt in His unconditional love for us, for He is the King who pardons and forgives our sins.

Yom Kippur is a complete fast in which there is no eating or drinking. It is a custom to wear at least one white garment on this day, or all white, as it is a sign of purity and holiness. Wearing white is also a reminder of the promise in Isaiah 1:18 that our sins will be made as white as snow.

The eve of Yom Kippur commences with the Kol Nidre (“Annulment of Vows”) service. Kol Nidre means “all vows,” and is the name of the prayer spoken in which we ask God to annul all vows that we made in the previous year, and all vows that we might make in the coming year.

The following day is spent in continued prayer and fasting, culminating in the final service, called Ne’ilah (“Closing of the Gates”) which is the fifth and final prayer of the day. Ne’ilah is a Hebrew word which means “closing” or “locking.” It symbolically refers to the closing of the Gates of Heaven, as it is the time in which the final prayers of repentance are recited. Yom Kippur concludes with a great blast of the shofar (ram’s horn). It is said that on Rosh Hashanah, one’s future for the coming year is determined; and on Yom Kippur, one’s future for the coming year is sealed.

Yom Kippur is a one-day observance which begins the evening of September 20, 2026, and ends the evening of September 21, 2026 (Tishrei 10 on the Hebrew calendar).

27.  Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; there shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls…

G’mar Chatimah Tovah is a common greeting for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and essentially means, “May you be sealed in the Book of Life for a good year.”

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Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words

a [a] as in arm
ai [ai] as in Thailand
e [e] as in red
ei [ei] as in eight
i [i] as in ski
o [o] as in score
oi [oi] as in oil
u [u] as in rule
ui [ui] as in gluing
ch/kh [ch] as in the Scottish loch
g [g] as in good (not as in giant)
tz [ts] as in hats
‘ short “eh” or “uh” sound

The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.