The High Holidays

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Dating back, Yom Kippur was the one day of the year on which the high priest could enter the inner sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem, “the Holy of Holies,” marking the only time that he would pronounce the sacred name of the Lord and ask forgiveness for the people’s sins (Yom Kippur History). The ancient Israelites would then symbolically place their sins upon a goat, called a “scapegoat,” which would be driven from the city bearing the sins of the community. On Yom Kippur today, Jewish people ask for forgiveness from everyone they have mistreated during the past year. It is said that one cannot present oneself before God for forgiveness without first asking pardon from those wronged (Yom Kippur History). The congregation confesses its sins communally with the words, “We have sinned...” Together, the Jewish community asks that their wrongdoing be forgiven and reconciliation to God granted. The service lasts until sundown, with a recitation of the story of the entrance of the priest to the Holy of Holies, and readings from the Torah and the Book of Jonah (Yom Kippur History). At one point in the service, the rabbi lays down before the ark, asking God to forgive his or her sins[5].

To conclude Yom Kippur, the services end with a single long blowing of the shofar sounds the end of the fast. After the final Yom Kippur service, Jewish people gathering in their own homes or the homes of friends to break the fast together with a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes, noodle pudding and baked goods (Yom Kippur History). In all, the main just of The High Holy Days is that the Jewish community has the chance to say cast out the wrong doing and wipe the plate clean of sins, to reflect on self examination and be forgiven, and to be righteous to yourself, one another, and to God.

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Works Cited

Greenberg, Irving. The Jewish Way: Living the Holidays. New York: Simon & Schuster. Print.

"Jewish Beliefs and Practices « Jewish Prisoner Services." Jewish Prisoner Services International. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

"Judaism 101: The Month of Tishri." Judaism 101: The Month of Tishri. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

"Judaism 101: Who Is a Jew?" Judaism 101: Who Is a Jew? Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

Kohler, Kaufman, and Jacob Zallel Lauterbatch. "Jewish Theology." THEOLOGY. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

"Yom Kippur History." Reform Judaism. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

"Tashlikh: Casting Our Sins Away." Tashlikh-Casting Sins Away. The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

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