All about Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is a special day in the Jewish religion when people say sorry for any mistakes they made in the past year. It is a time to think about how we can be better and kinder to others. On Yom Kippur, Jewish people fast, which means they don't eat or drink for a whole day. This helps them focus on being sorry and asking for forgiveness.

Before Yom Kippur, there is another special day called Rosh Hashanah, which is like a New Year celebration. On Rosh Hashanah, people blow a special horn called a shofar to symbolize a fresh start and to remind them to think about how they can be kinder in the new year.

On Yom Kippur, people go to the synagogue to pray and listen to stories from their holy book, the Torah. They also light candles and wear white clothes to show they are sorry and want to start fresh. At the end of Yom Kippur, when the sun sets, people have a big meal with family and friends to celebrate and be thankful for the new beginning.

  1. Why do Jewish people fast on Yom Kippur?
  2. What is the significance of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
  3. What do people do at the synagogue on Yom Kippur?
  4. How do people show they are sorry and want to start fresh on Yom Kippur?
  5. Why is the meal at the end of Yom Kippur important?

Symbols and Traditions

Yom Kippur is a special day for Jewish people to ask for forgiveness and reflect on their actions. It is a time to say sorry for any mistakes they have made in the past year. On this day, they fast, which means they do not eat or drink for a whole day to show they are sorry and to focus on prayer.

One important symbol of Yom Kippur is the shofar, which is a horn that is blown to mark the end of the day of fasting. Another symbol is wearing white clothes, which represents purity and starting fresh.

Jewish people also have special traditions on Yom Kippur, such as going to the synagogue to pray and asking for forgiveness from others as well as from God. They also read from a special prayer book called the Machzor, which has prayers and stories for this important day.

Overall, Yom Kippur is a time for Jewish people to reflect, say sorry, and make things right with others and with God. It is a day of forgiveness, prayer, and starting anew.

  1. What is the significance of fasting on Yom Kippur?
  2. Describe two symbols of Yom Kippur and explain their meanings.
  3. What are some of the traditions observed by Jewish people on Yom Kippur?
  4. How does the shofar play a role in Yom Kippur?
  5. Why is wearing white clothes significant on Yom Kippur?

My Family and Yom Kippur

Hi, my name is Molly and I am 8 years old. Today, I want to share with you how my family celebrates Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is a special day for Jewish people to ask for forgiveness and reflect on their actions. It's a time to say sorry for any mistakes we have made in the past year.

On Yom Kippur, we fast, which means we don't eat or drink for a whole day to show we are sorry and to focus on prayer. One important symbol of Yom Kippur is the shofar, a horn that is blown to mark the end of the day of fasting. We also wear white clothes, which represent purity and starting fresh.

My family and I go to the synagogue to pray and ask for forgiveness from others and from God. We read from a special prayer book called the Machzor, which has prayers and stories for this important day.

Overall, Yom Kippur is a time for us to reflect, say sorry, and make things right with others and with God. It's a day of forgiveness, prayer, and starting anew.

  1. Can you name one important symbol of Yom Kippur?
  2. Why do Jewish people fast on Yom Kippur?
  3. What do white clothes symbolize on Yom Kippur?
  4. Where do families go to pray on Yom Kippur?
  5. What is the name of the special prayer book used on Yom Kippur?

Comparing Yom Kippur to another Festival

After learning all about Yom Kippur, is there another festival that you celebrate or that you know that is similar in any way? Make a project comparing the similarities and differences between this festival and Yom Kippurand think about what symbols and traditions that are part of it. Think about the story of the festival, if it has one, where it is mainly celebrated - whether it is one country or all over the world. You can produce the project using any medium whether it's paper or on a laptop.

Slideshow - Yom Kippur
A full set of teaching plans for Yom Kippurteaching.