Jackie07
09-27-2009, 05:02 PM
Found this off a website - Yom Kippur in a Nutshell.
Thought I would post it and share with everyone.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year--the day on which we are closest to G‑d (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4473) and to the quintessence (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317732) of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4726) -- "For on this day He will forgive (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317731) you, to purify (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4829) you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4558)" (Leviticus 16:30).
For twenty-six hours (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4559)--from several minutes before sunset on Tishrei 9 to after nightfall on Tishrei 10--we "afflict (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4821) our souls": we abstain from food and drink (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=2513), do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.
Before Yom Kippur (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4451) we perform the Kaparot (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=176238) atonement service; we request and receive honey cake (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=425298), in acknowledgement that we are all recipients (http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=292) in G-d's world and in prayerful hope for a sweet and abundant year; eat a festive meal (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4440), immerse in a mikvah (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=1541), and give extra charity (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=3056). Late afternoon we eat the pre-fast meal, following which we bless our children (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4458), light a memorial candle (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=45832) as well as the holiday candles (http://www.chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.asp?hDate=7/1&weeks=4), and go to the synagogue (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4889) for Kol Nidrei services.
In the course of Yom Kippur we hold five prayer (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4452) services: Maariv, with its solemn Kol Nidrei (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4476) service, on the eve of Yom Kippur; Shacharit--the morning prayer; Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4560); Minchah, which includes the reading of the Book of Jonah (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=2548); and Ne'illah, the "closing of the gates" service at sunset (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=89970). We say the Al Chet confession (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=176233) of sins eight times in the course of Yom Kippur, and recite Psalms (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=15770) every available moment.
The day is the most solemn of the year, yet an undertone of joy (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=166403) suffuses it: a joy that revels in the spirituality of the day and expresses the confidence that G-d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=146899) for a year of life, health and happiness. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of "Hear O Israel... G-d is one (http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=300)." Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively "Napoleon's March (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=140700)"), followed by a single blast (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317733) of the shofar, followed by the proclamation, "Next year in Jerusalem (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4890)." We then partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4474) a Yom Tov (festival) in its own right.
Thought I would post it and share with everyone.
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year--the day on which we are closest to G‑d (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4473) and to the quintessence (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317732) of our own souls. It is the Day of Atonement (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4726) -- "For on this day He will forgive (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317731) you, to purify (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4829) you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before G‑d (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4558)" (Leviticus 16:30).
For twenty-six hours (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4559)--from several minutes before sunset on Tishrei 9 to after nightfall on Tishrei 10--we "afflict (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4821) our souls": we abstain from food and drink (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=2513), do not wash or anoint our bodies, do not wear leather footwear, and abstain from marital relations.
Before Yom Kippur (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4451) we perform the Kaparot (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=176238) atonement service; we request and receive honey cake (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=425298), in acknowledgement that we are all recipients (http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=292) in G-d's world and in prayerful hope for a sweet and abundant year; eat a festive meal (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4440), immerse in a mikvah (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=1541), and give extra charity (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=3056). Late afternoon we eat the pre-fast meal, following which we bless our children (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4458), light a memorial candle (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=45832) as well as the holiday candles (http://www.chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.asp?hDate=7/1&weeks=4), and go to the synagogue (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4889) for Kol Nidrei services.
In the course of Yom Kippur we hold five prayer (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4452) services: Maariv, with its solemn Kol Nidrei (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4476) service, on the eve of Yom Kippur; Shacharit--the morning prayer; Musaf, which includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4560); Minchah, which includes the reading of the Book of Jonah (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=2548); and Ne'illah, the "closing of the gates" service at sunset (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=89970). We say the Al Chet confession (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=176233) of sins eight times in the course of Yom Kippur, and recite Psalms (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=15770) every available moment.
The day is the most solemn of the year, yet an undertone of joy (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=166403) suffuses it: a joy that revels in the spirituality of the day and expresses the confidence that G-d will accept our repentance, forgive our sins, and seal our verdict (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=146899) for a year of life, health and happiness. The closing Neilah service climaxes in the resounding cries of "Hear O Israel... G-d is one (http://www.chabad.org/search/keyword.asp?kid=300)." Then joy erupts in song and dance (a Chabad custom is to sing the lively "Napoleon's March (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=140700)"), followed by a single blast (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=317733) of the shofar, followed by the proclamation, "Next year in Jerusalem (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4890)." We then partake of a festive after-fast meal, making the evening after Yom Kippur (http://www.chabad.org/article.asp?AID=4474) a Yom Tov (festival) in its own right.