Editing Jewish holidays (section)

===Yom Kippur—Day of Atonement===
{{Main article|Yom Kippur}}
[[File:Shofar-Sabbath-Horn-Yemenite-Jew.jpg|thumb|A man in a [[tallit]] blows the [[shofar]]]]

* Erev Yom Kippur: 9 Tishrei
* Yom Kippur: 10 Tishrei (begins at sunset)

Yom Kippur ({{langx|he|יום כיפור}}) is the holiest day of the year for Jews.<ref group=Note>That is, conventional (Rabbinic) Jews. [[Karaite Judaism|Karaite Jews]] and [[Samaritans]] regard [[Passover]] as the holiest day of the year.</ref> Its central theme is [[Atonement in Judaism|atonement]] and [[:wikt:reconciliation|reconciliation]]. This is accomplished through prayer and complete fasting—including abstinence from all food and drink (including water)—by all healthy adults.<ref group=Note>Fasting begins at religious majority–age 13 for boys and age 12 for girls. Fasting is prohibited for a variety of medical reasons (''e.g.,'' for nursing mothers, diabetics, people with anorexia nervosa, etc.).</ref> Bathing, wearing of perfume or cologne, wearing of leather shoes, and sexual relations are some of the other prohibitions on Yom Kippur—all them designed to ensure one's attention is completely and absolutely focused on the quest for atonement with God. Yom Kippur is also unique among holidays as having [[#work|work-related restrictions]] identical to those of Shabbat. The fast and other prohibitions commence on 10 Tishrei at sunset—sunset being the ''beginning'' of the day in Jewish tradition.

A traditional prayer in [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] called ''[[Kol Nidre]]'' ("All Vows") is traditionally recited just before sunset. Although often regarded as the start of the Yom Kippur evening service—to such a degree that ''Erev Yom Kippur'' ("Yom Kippur Evening") is often called "Kol Nidre" (also spelled "Kol Nidrei")—it is technically a separate tradition. This is especially so because, being recited before sunset, it is actually recited on 9 Tishrei, which is the day ''before'' Yom Kippur; it is not recited on Yom Kippur itself (on 10 Tishrei, which begins ''after'' the sun sets).
: The words of Kol Nidre differ slightly between Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions. In both, the supplicant prays to be released from all personal vows made to God during the year, so that any unfulfilled promises made to God will be annulled and, thus, forgiven. In Ashkenazi tradition, the reference is to the coming year; in Sephardic tradition, the reference is to the year just ended. Only vows between the supplicant and God are relevant. Vows made between the supplicant and other people remain perfectly valid, since they are unaffected by the prayer.

A ''[[Tallit]]'' (four-cornered [[prayer]] shawl) is donned for evening and afternoon prayers–the only day of the year in which this is done. In traditional Ashkenazi communities, men wear the ''[[kittel]]'' throughout the day's prayers. The prayers on Yom Kippur evening are lengthier than on any other night of the year. Once services reconvene in the morning, the services (in all traditions) are the longest of the year. In some traditional synagogues prayers run continuously from morning until nightfall, or nearly so. Two highlights of the morning prayers in traditional synagogues are the recitation of ''[[Yizkor]],'' the prayer of remembrance, and of liturgical poems ''([[piyyutim]])'' describing the [[Yom Kippur#Temple service|temple service of Yom Kippur]].

Two other highlights happen late in the day. During the ''[[Minchah]]'' prayer, the ''[[haftarah]]'' reading features the entire [[Book of Jonah]]. Finally, the day concludes with ''[[Ne'ilah]],'' a special service recited only on the day of Yom Kippur. Ne'ilah deals with the closing of the holiday, and contains a fervent final plea to God for forgiveness just before the conclusion of the fast. Yom Kippur comes to an end with the blowing of the ''[[shofar]]'', which marks the conclusion of the fast. It is always observed as a one-day holiday, both inside and outside the boundaries of the [[Land of Israel]].

Yom Kippur is considered, along with 15th of Av, as the happiest days of the year (Talmud Bavli—Tractate Ta'anit).<ref name="Tubav">{{cite web |title=The Fifteenth Av and Yom Kippur |author=Nachum Mohl | url=http://www.jewishmag.co.il/136mag/tu_bav_yom_kippur/tu_bav_yom_kippur.htm|website=www.jewishmag.co.il}}</ref>