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Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar when observers spend a day fasting in solemn atonement. In 2019 Yom Kippur takes place in the Jewish Year 5780, from sunset on October 8
to nightfall on October 9. Those who choose to celebrate will do so with several time-honoured traditions and greetings. HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE YOM KIPPUR? Yom Kippur is not “celebrated” in
the traditional sense but required for practitioners of the Jewish faith. The holiday comes after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and is meant to prepare practitioners for the year
ahead. Yom Kippur is set aside for atonement and is described as “Shabbat shabbaton”, meaning the shabbat of solemn rest. READ MORE: ROSH HASHANAH GREETINGS: HOW TO WISH SOMEONE A HAPPY ROSH
HASHANAH HOW DO YOU WISH SOMEONE A HAPPY YOM KIPPUR? Unlike Christmas, “happy Yom Kippur” is not a traditional greeting. The proper greeting during Yom Kippur is “G’mar Hatima Tova”, which
translates from Hebrew to “may you be sealed in the Book of Life.” The greeting can be shortened to “G’mar Tov” where appropriate. READ MORE: SUKKOT 2018: WHAT IS A SUKKAH? HOW DO YOU BUILD
ONE? Jewish tradition dictates Yom Kippur started in the Old testament with Moses’ journey to Mount Sinai. When he appeared at the bottom of the mountain with the Ten Commandments, Moses
found his followers worshipping a golden calf. In anger, he threw the commandments to the ground, breaking them into pieces, and the followers were forced to repent. Once they had repented,
Moses was given new commandments, and people commemorate this by atoning their sins during Yom Kippur.