Yom Kippur, also known in English as the Day of Atonement is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It occurs annually on the 10th Day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In 2022, Yom Kippur starts on the evening of Tuesday, October 4. Primarily centered on atonement and repentance, the day’s observances consist of full fasting and ascetic behavior accompanied by intensive prayer as well as sin confessions (traditionally inside of a synagogue). Alongside the related holiday of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur is one of the two components of the “High Holy Days” of Judaism. Like all Jewish holidays, it starts the night before the day of Yom Kippur and it ends after nightfall.
Sandy Koufax
Many secular Jews, who normally do not keep Shabbat, will fast on this day and some attend synagogue during the services or may attend at the very end of the day to hear the final blowing of the Shofar (ram’s horn), which signals the end of the fast. The traditional color of clothes to wear on Yom Kippur is white and footwear is restricted to non-leather shoes.
It is such an important holiday that Sandy Koufax, the Hall of Fame pitcher, decided not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.
Before the fast, it is common to wish others a “Tsom Kal” (an easy fast), even if you don’t know if they are fasting or not.
Since such a large percentage of Israeli Jews fast on Yom Kippur, it is considered impolite to eat publicly, use your BBQ or play music outdoors.
How does it affect you if you are not observing the holiday?
- All businesses, government offices, stores, bars and restaurants are closed. Most close early the afternoon before Yom Kippur. If you need something, make sure to buy it early.
- All airports are closed. Completely.
- Public transportation is shut down.
- All Israeli radio and TV shuts down for at least 25 hours.
- Israeli providers of video on demand shut down.
- Nobody drives on Yom Kippur except first responders. Don’t even think of driving your car. The streets are taken over by pedestrians and you will see kids bicycling, skateboarding and roller blading in the middle of what were busy streets before Yom Kippur. The Ayalon, the highway that runs through the center of Tel Aviv, like other main thoroughfares is full of bicyclists and other non-motorized vehicles.
- Police, ambulance and firefighters do respond to calls.
- The army does not shut down, especially because Egypt and Syria used the solemnity of the day for a surprise attack on Israel in 1973. That war became known as the Yom Kippur War.
Minutes after the fast ends, you will start to see cars on the road and some shops will open.
