Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, is celebrated in early fall on Tishri 10 of the Jewish calendar, 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. Regarded as the Sabbath of Sabbaths, Yom Kippur is marked by fasting, confession to God of sins committed during the last year, and prayers of forgiveness. Observance begins on Yom Kippur eve with the kol nidre service of repentance. Originally, Yom Kippur was the only day of the year when the high priest entered the inner sanctuary of the Temple (the Holy of Holies) to offer sacrifice. A goat - the so called scapegoat - symbolically carrying the sins of the Jewish people, was then driven into the desert.