U.S. Army Garrison Jewish lay leader The Jewish period of Yom Kippur will start Sept. 17 with the Kol Nidre observance and conclude one hour after sundown Sept. 18.
The Jewish biblical source of Yom Kippur is found in the Torah\'s Book of Leviticus, Chapter 23: "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'The tenth day of the seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict your souls (fast).
You shall do no work throughout the day, for it is a day of atonement.'"
Jews fulfill the Torah's commandment "to afflict your souls" by abstaining from all eating and drinking from sundown Sept. 17 until sundown Sept. 18.
This applies to all Jews except the very old or sick and young people not yet bar or bat mitzvahed.
The obligation to fast, coupled with five religious services in this 24-hour period, are intended to help Jews focus and seek forgiveness from God, as well as from Family, neighbors and friends for sins and transgressions.
For some Jews, the wearing of white garments for women or a special white robe for men during Yom Kippur is a custom symbolizing purity and forgiveness.
Leather items, including shoes, are replaced with other materials during Yom Kippur, in keeping with the Jewish belief that no clothing made of animal hide should be worn during the observance.
The conclusion of Yom Kippur is marked by a single blast of the Shofar, a ram's horn, which is intended to signal the joy and elation of all Jews who believe God has forgiven them for all their shortcomings and has blessed them with health, happiness and prosperity in the biblical new year. For more information on various synagogues or temples in the metro Atlanta area, call Jimmy Bradford, Jewish lay leader, at 770-461-4298 or 770-474-3031.
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