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== Biblical origin == |
== Biblical origin == |
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The rites for Yom Kippur are set forth in the sixteenth chapter of [[Leviticus]] (cf. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11). It is described as a solemn fast, on which no food or drink could be consumed, and on which all work is forbidden. Sacrifices were offered in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]]. |
The rites for Yom Kippur are set forth in the sixteenth chapter of [[Leviticus]] (cf. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11). It is described as a solemn fast, on which no food or drink could be consumed, and on which all work is forbidden. Sacrifices were offered in the [[Temple in Jerusalem]]. |
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== Service in [[Temple in Jerusalem]] == |
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On Yom Kippur, the [[Kohen Gadol]] (High Priest) personally performed the regular daily service, which was normally performed by ordinary priests. In addition, the Kohen Gadol performed a complex set of special services for Yom Kippur, including: |
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'''Morning (Tamid) Offering''' The Kohen Gadol performed the regular daily (Tamid) offering in special golden garments, after washing his hands and feet. |
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*'''Garment Change 1''' The Kohen Gadol immersed in a [[Mikvah]] and changed into special linen garments, and washed his hands and feet twice, after removing the golden garments and before putting on the linen garments. |
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* '''Lottery of the goats.''' At the Eastern (Nikanor) gate, the Kohen Gadol drew lots from a lottery box over two goats. One was selected "For the Lord", and one "For Azazzel". The Kohen Gadol tied a red band to the goat "for Azazzel". |
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* '''Bull as Personal Sin-Offering''' The Kohan Gadol leaned (performed [[Semikha]] and made a confession over the goat on behalf of himself and his household. He then slaughtered the bull as a ''chatat'' (sin-offering) and received its blood in a bowl. |
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* '''Incense Preparation''' The Kohen Gadol ascended the [[Mizbeach]] (alter) and took a shovel full of embers with a special shovel. He was brought incense. He filled his hands (while still balancing the shovel!) and placed it in a vessel. |
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* '''Incense Offering''' Holding the shovel and the vessel, he entered the [[Most Holy Place]]. In the days of the [[Solomon's Temple}First Temple]], he placed the shovel between the poles of the [[Ark of the Covenant]]. In the days of the [[Second Temple]], He put the shovel where the Ark would have been. He waited until the chamber filled with smoke and left. |
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*'''Sprinkling of Blood in the [[Holy of Holies]]''' The Kohen Gadol took the bowl with the bull's blood and entered the [[Most Holy Place]] again. He sprinkled the bull's blood with his finger eight times, before the Ark in the days of the First Temple, where it would have been in the days of the Second. The Kohen Gadol then left the [[Holy of Holies]], putting the bowl on a stand in front of the [[Parochet]] (curtain separating the Holy from the [[Holy of Holies]]). |
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*'''Goat for the Lord''' The Kohen Gadol went to the eastern end of the Israelite courtyard near the Nikanor Gate, laid his hands ([[Semikha]] on the goat "For the Lord", and slaughtered it, and received its blood in another bowl. |
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*'''Sprinkling of blood in the Holy''' Standing in the [[Haichal]] (Holy), on the other side of the [[Parochet]] (curtain) from the [[Holy of Holies]], the Kohen Gadol took the bull's blood from the stand and sprinkled it with his finger eight times in the direction of the [[Parochet]]. He then took the bowl with the goat's blood and sprinkled it eight times in the same manner, putting it back on the stand. |
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*'''Smearing of blood on the Golden (Incense) Alter''' The Kohen Gadol renoved the goat's blood from the stand and mixed it with the bull's blood. Starting at the northeast corner, he then smeared the mixture of blood on each of the four corners of the Golden (Incense) alter in the [[Haichal]] (Holy). |
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*'''Goat for Azazzel''' The Kohen Gadol left the [[Haichal]] and walked to the east side of the [[Azaryah]] (Israelite courtyard). Near the Nikanor Gate, he leaned his hands ([[Semikha]] on the goat "for Azazel" and confeessed the sins of the entire people of Israel. While he made a general confession, individuals in the crowd at the Temple would confess privately. The Kohen Gadol then sent the goat off "to the wilderness". In practice, to prevent its return to human habitation, the goat was led to a cliff outside Jerusalem and pushed off its edge. |
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*'''Preparation of sacrificial animals''' While the goat "for Azazzel" was being led to the cliff, the Kohen Gadol removed the insides of the bull, and intertwined the bodies of the bull and goat. Other people took the bodies to the ''Beit HaDeshen'' (place of the ashes). They were burnt there after it was confirmed that the goat "for Azazzel" had reached the wilderness. |
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*'''Reading the Torah''' After it was confirmed that the goat "for Azazzel" had been pushed off the cliff, the Kohen Gadol passed through the Nikanor Gate into the ''Ezrat Nashim'' (Women's Courtyard) and read sections of the Torah describing Yom Kippur and its [[Korban|sacrifice]]s. |
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*'''Garment change 2''' The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the [[Mikvah]] in the Temple courtyard, and changed into a second set of special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet both before removing the linen garments and after putting on the golden ones. |
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*'''Offering of Rams''' The Kohen Gadol offered two rams as an ''olah'' offering, slaughtering them on the north side of the [[Mizbeach]] (outer alter), receiving their blood in a bowl, carrying the bowl to the outer alter, and dashing the blood on the northeast and southwest corners of the Outer Alter. He dismembered the rams and burned the parts entirely on the outer alter. He then offered the accompanying [[Mincha]] (grain) offerings and ''nesachim'' (wine-libations). |
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*'''Mussaf Offering''' The Kohen Gadol then offered the Mussaf offering. |
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*'''Burning of Innards''' The Kohen Gadol placed the insides of the bull and goat on the outer alter and burned them entirely. |
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*'''*Garment change 3''' The Kohen Gadol removed his golden garments, immersed in the [[Mikvah]] and changed to a new set of linen garments, again washing his hands and feet twice. |
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*'''Removal of Incense from the [[Holy of Holies]] The Kohen Gadol returned to the Holy of Holies and removed the bowl of incense and the shovel. |
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*'''Garment Change 4''' The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the [[Mikvah]], and changed into a third set of golden garments, again washing his hands and feet twice. |
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*'''Evening (Tamid) Offering''' The Kohen Gadol completed the afternoon portion of the regular (''tamid'') daily offering in the special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet a tenth time. |
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The Kohen Gadol wore 5 sets of garments (3 golden and 2 linen), immersed in the [[Mikvah]] five times, and washed his hands and feet ten times. |
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==Observances== |
==Observances== |
Revision as of 09:30, 5 September 2006
Yom Kippur | |
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![]() Yom Kippur (1878) | |
Official name | Hebrew: יום כיפור or יום הכיפורים |
Also called | Day of Atonement |
Observed by | Judaism and Jews |
Type | Religious |
Significance | Judgment day for individuals and all people. Day of Atonement for sins, and for the Golden calf. |
Observances | Fasting, prayer |
Date | 10th day of Tishrei |
2024 date | |
Related to | Rosh Hashanah that precedes Yom Kippur, and Sukkot that follows Yom Kippur. |
- The article describes a religious holiday. For the 1973 military conflict see Yom Kippur War.
Yom Kippur (יום כיפור yom kippūr) is the Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. The Bible calls the day Yom Hakippurim (Hebrew, "Day of the Atonements"). It is one of the Yamim Noraim (Hebrew, "Days of Awe"). The day is commemorated with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer. It is considered the holiest day of the Jewish year.
Biblical origin
The rites for Yom Kippur are set forth in the sixteenth chapter of Leviticus (cf. Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27-31, 25:9; Numbers 29:7-11). It is described as a solemn fast, on which no food or drink could be consumed, and on which all work is forbidden. Sacrifices were offered in the Temple in Jerusalem.
Service in Temple in Jerusalem
On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) personally performed the regular daily service, which was normally performed by ordinary priests. In addition, the Kohen Gadol performed a complex set of special services for Yom Kippur, including:
Morning (Tamid) Offering The Kohen Gadol performed the regular daily (Tamid) offering in special golden garments, after washing his hands and feet.
- Garment Change 1 The Kohen Gadol immersed in a Mikvah and changed into special linen garments, and washed his hands and feet twice, after removing the golden garments and before putting on the linen garments.
- Lottery of the goats. At the Eastern (Nikanor) gate, the Kohen Gadol drew lots from a lottery box over two goats. One was selected "For the Lord", and one "For Azazzel". The Kohen Gadol tied a red band to the goat "for Azazzel".
- Bull as Personal Sin-Offering The Kohan Gadol leaned (performed Semikha and made a confession over the goat on behalf of himself and his household. He then slaughtered the bull as a chatat (sin-offering) and received its blood in a bowl.
- Incense Preparation The Kohen Gadol ascended the Mizbeach (alter) and took a shovel full of embers with a special shovel. He was brought incense. He filled his hands (while still balancing the shovel!) and placed it in a vessel.
- Incense Offering Holding the shovel and the vessel, he entered the Most Holy Place. In the days of the [[Solomon's Temple}First Temple]], he placed the shovel between the poles of the Ark of the Covenant. In the days of the Second Temple, He put the shovel where the Ark would have been. He waited until the chamber filled with smoke and left.
- Sprinkling of Blood in the Holy of Holies The Kohen Gadol took the bowl with the bull's blood and entered the Most Holy Place again. He sprinkled the bull's blood with his finger eight times, before the Ark in the days of the First Temple, where it would have been in the days of the Second. The Kohen Gadol then left the Holy of Holies, putting the bowl on a stand in front of the Parochet (curtain separating the Holy from the Holy of Holies).
- Goat for the Lord The Kohen Gadol went to the eastern end of the Israelite courtyard near the Nikanor Gate, laid his hands (Semikha on the goat "For the Lord", and slaughtered it, and received its blood in another bowl.
- Sprinkling of blood in the Holy Standing in the Haichal (Holy), on the other side of the Parochet (curtain) from the Holy of Holies, the Kohen Gadol took the bull's blood from the stand and sprinkled it with his finger eight times in the direction of the Parochet. He then took the bowl with the goat's blood and sprinkled it eight times in the same manner, putting it back on the stand.
- Smearing of blood on the Golden (Incense) Alter The Kohen Gadol renoved the goat's blood from the stand and mixed it with the bull's blood. Starting at the northeast corner, he then smeared the mixture of blood on each of the four corners of the Golden (Incense) alter in the Haichal (Holy).
- Goat for Azazzel The Kohen Gadol left the Haichal and walked to the east side of the Azaryah (Israelite courtyard). Near the Nikanor Gate, he leaned his hands (Semikha on the goat "for Azazel" and confeessed the sins of the entire people of Israel. While he made a general confession, individuals in the crowd at the Temple would confess privately. The Kohen Gadol then sent the goat off "to the wilderness". In practice, to prevent its return to human habitation, the goat was led to a cliff outside Jerusalem and pushed off its edge.
- Preparation of sacrificial animals While the goat "for Azazzel" was being led to the cliff, the Kohen Gadol removed the insides of the bull, and intertwined the bodies of the bull and goat. Other people took the bodies to the Beit HaDeshen (place of the ashes). They were burnt there after it was confirmed that the goat "for Azazzel" had reached the wilderness.
- Reading the Torah After it was confirmed that the goat "for Azazzel" had been pushed off the cliff, the Kohen Gadol passed through the Nikanor Gate into the Ezrat Nashim (Women's Courtyard) and read sections of the Torah describing Yom Kippur and its sacrifices.
- Garment change 2 The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the Mikvah in the Temple courtyard, and changed into a second set of special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet both before removing the linen garments and after putting on the golden ones.
- Offering of Rams The Kohen Gadol offered two rams as an olah offering, slaughtering them on the north side of the Mizbeach (outer alter), receiving their blood in a bowl, carrying the bowl to the outer alter, and dashing the blood on the northeast and southwest corners of the Outer Alter. He dismembered the rams and burned the parts entirely on the outer alter. He then offered the accompanying Mincha (grain) offerings and nesachim (wine-libations).
- Mussaf Offering The Kohen Gadol then offered the Mussaf offering.
- Burning of Innards The Kohen Gadol placed the insides of the bull and goat on the outer alter and burned them entirely.
- *Garment change 3 The Kohen Gadol removed his golden garments, immersed in the Mikvah and changed to a new set of linen garments, again washing his hands and feet twice.
- Removal of Incense from the Holy of Holies The Kohen Gadol returned to the Holy of Holies and removed the bowl of incense and the shovel.
- Garment Change 4 The Kohen Gadol removed his linen garments, immersed in the Mikvah, and changed into a third set of golden garments, again washing his hands and feet twice.
- Evening (Tamid) Offering The Kohen Gadol completed the afternoon portion of the regular (tamid) daily offering in the special golden garments. He washed his hands and feet a tenth time.
The Kohen Gadol wore 5 sets of garments (3 golden and 2 linen), immersed in the Mikvah five times, and washed his hands and feet ten times.
Observances
General observances
Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of repentance, considered to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year. Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation. Eating, drinking, washing, cosmetics, wearing leather shoes, and conjugal relations are prohibited (Mishnah tractate Yoma 8:1). Fasting - total abstention from all food and drink - usually begins a half an hour before sundown (called "tosefet Yom Kippur", the "addition" of fasting a bit of the previous day is required by Jewish law), and ends after nightfall the following day.
Contrary to popular belief, Yom Kippur is not a sad day. Sephardic Jews (Jews of Spanish, Portuguese and North African descent) refer to this holiday as "the White Fast". Consequently, many Jews have the custom of wearing only white clothing on this day, to symbolize their "white" purity from sin, akin to angels.
Observances among secular Jews
Yom Kippur is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays and its observance is held even among the majority of secular Jews who may not strictly observe other holidays. Many secular Jews will fast and attend synagogue on Yom Kippur, and attendance on Yom Kippur can be double, triple or even more than the normal number of worshippers. In Israel, public non-observance (such as eating or driving a motor vehicle) is taboo. Yom Kippur there has the nickname "Festival of Bicycles," referring to children's practice of freely riding their bicycles in the streets without motor vehicles presenting danger. In Israel on Yom Kippur there is no broadcast television, no public transportation and the airports are closed. There is no commerce of any kind in the Jewish areas.
The eve of Yom Kippur
There is a commandment to eat a large and festive meal before Yom Kippur starts after the mincha prayer. Traditional foods consumed during that meal include kreplach and rice. Many others also have a custom to eat another meal before that, consuming fish. Also, all Orthodox men immerse themselves in a mikvah close to mincha.
Prayer services
Men don a Tallit (four-cornered prayer garment) for evening prayers, the only evening service of the year in which this is done, and many married men also wear a kittel, or white shroud. Prayer services begin with the prayer known as "Kol Nidre", which must be recited before sunset, and follows with the regular evening prayers (ma'ariv or arvith).
The morning prayer service is preceded by litanies and petitions of forgiveness called selichot; on Yom Kippur, many selichot are woven into the liturgy. The morning prayers are followed by an added prayer (mussaf) as on all other holidays, followed by mincha (the afternoon prayer) and the added ne'ilah prayer specific for Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur comes to an end with a recitation of Shema Yisrael and the blowing of the shofar, which marks the conclusion of the fast.
The Torah is read during the morning and afternoon prayers (Leviticus 16 and 18, respectively); the book of Jonah is read as the haftarah in the afternoon. Depending on the nusach (version) of the prayers, some communities pray continuously from morning until nightfall, while some include a short break. Every prayer includes the vidduy (confession); see below for more information.
Atonement
Forgiveness and vidduy
According to the Talmud, God opens three books on the first day of the year; one for the thoroughly wicked, another for the thoroughly pious, and the third for the large intermediate class. The fate of the thoroughly wicked and the thoroughly pious is determined on the spot; the destiny of the intermediate class is suspended until Yom Kippur, when the fate of everyone is sealed. The liturgical piece Unetanneh Tokef (attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mainz) states:
- God, seated on His throne to judge the world, at the same time Judge, Pleader, Expert, and Witness, opens the Book of Records. It is read, every man's signature being found therein. The great trumpet is sounded; a still, small voice is heard; the angels shudder, saying, "this is the day of judgment": for God's very ministers are not pure before God. As a shepherd musters his flock, causing them to pass under his rod, so does God cause every living soul to pass before Him, to fix the limit of every creature's life and to ordain its destiny. On New-Year's Day the decree is written; on the Day of Atonement it is sealed; who shall live and who are to die....But penitence, prayer, and charity may avert the harsh decree."
According to Maimonides, "all depends on whether a man's merits outweigh the demerits put to his account", so it is therefore desirable to multiply good deeds before the final account on the Day of Atonement (Yad, Laws of Repentance 3:4). Those that are found worthy by God are said to be entered in the Book of Life, hence the prayer: "Enter us in the Book of Life". Hence also the greeting "May you be sealed [in the Book of Life] for a happy year" ("Gemar Chatima Tovah"). In letters written between New-Year and the Day of Atonement, the writer usually concludes by wishing the recipient that God may seal his fate for happiness.
Penitent confession was a requisite for expiation through capital or corporal punishment. On Yom Kippur, every prayer (whether silent or communal) includes the vidduy, a standardised confession. It consists of the short vidduy and the long vidduy (the latter is omitted in the ne'ilah service). Both are arranged alphabetically, probably to aid the public in memorizing it.
Reconciliation with others
"The Day of Atonement absolves from sins against God, but not from sins against a fellow man unless the pardon of the offended person be secured" (Mishnah tractate Yoma 8:9). Hence the custom of terminating on the eve of the fastday (or in the 10-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) all feuds and disputes. Even the souls of the dead are included in the community of those pardoned on the Day of Atonement. It is customary for children to have public mention made in the synagogue of their departed parents, and to make charitable gifts on behalf of their souls.
The Temple service
The sacrificial service of the Temple in Jerusalem features prominently in both the liturgy and the religious thought of the holiday. Specifically, the Avodah ("service") in the mussaf prayer recounts the sacrificial ceremonies in great detail.
The most distinctive ceremony was the offering of the "emissary goats", or "scapegoats" (Leviticus 16:8-10), one of which was offered on the altar and another was sent into the desert to "Azazel"; the goats were identical, and the fate of each goat was decided by lots. Commentators differ as to the exact meaning of this offering; it is generally presumed that the goats are each symbols for people, modes of behavior or other subjects.
The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) performed most of the service himself, including sin offerings for himself and his family, all the priests and finally the whole Jewish people. During the confessions made for each offering he pronounced the Ineffable Name, the only instance when this was permitted. This was also the occasion of the high priest's annual entry into the debir (holy of holies), placing first incense and then the sacrificial blood before the Lord, a ritual that only a high priest was to perform.
See also
References
External links
- See and hear the shofar
- Biblaridion magazine: Origins of the Day of Atonement (part1&2)
- Yom Kippur guide at chabad.org