Search results for: ""Yom Kippur""

When Shiv'a (and Shloshim) Starts: Jewish Festivals
For someone who dies during Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, or any of the three Jewish festivals, the mourning period does not start until after the holiday has ended.
 
Asking Forgiveness
  • If you know you have offended or otherwise injured someone, ask for forgiveness before Yom Kippur (if doing so will bring up bad feelings from the past, you may not do so--but you might not be forgiven for that injury). 
  • If you may have offended, ask for forgiveness.
  • If you are certain that you did not, don't ask for forgiveness.
  • If you did not ask someone for forgiveness (whom you should have asked) before Yom Kippur, you should do so afterward.
  • If a person wrongs you intentionally, you do not need to forgive him or her unless the person repairs the wrong and is genuinely regretful for having done the evil.
Jewish Festivals: Cooking from an Existing Flame
You may cook food on all Jewish festivals (except Yom Kippur or when they coincide with Shabbat) as long as the fire, oven, or other cooking appliance:
  • Has been on since before the Jewish festival began, OR
  • Is lit during the Jewish festival from an existing flame, such as from a pilot light or yahrzeit candle lit before the Jewish festival began.
Beginning of Jewish Day
For all practical purposes, the Jewish day always starts at or near sunset (Yom Kippur starts slightly before sunset).
Shiv'a and Shloshim: Ended by Jewish Festivals
Shiv'a ends if a Jewish festival, Rosh Hashana, or Yom Kippur intervenes.
Shloshim ends if a Jewish festival, Rosh Hashana, or Yom Kippur intervenes.
If two of those holidays occur within the first seven days after burial, the first one will break shiv'a and the second one will break shloshim.
Shimini Atseret does not constitute a second day for breaking shiv'a or shloshim (it is considered to be part of Sukkot for this purpose).
SheHecheyanu at Candle-Lighting for Jewish Festivals
Say she'hecheyanu when lighting candles for:
  • Both days of Rosh Hashana,
  • Yom Kippur,
  • First day (if in Eretz Yisrael) or first two days of Sukkot,
  • Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah,
  • First day (if in Eretz Yisrael) or both days of Shavuot, and
  • First day (if in Eretz Yisrael) or first two days of Passover.
Note She'hecheyanu is not said on the last day (if in Eretz Yisrael) or last two days of Passover.
Havdala Spices Only on Saturday Night
The only havdala for which we use spices and candle is Saturday night. After Yom Kippur, just use wine and a candle, see Yom Kippur: Ending: Havdala. See also How To Hold the Havdala Cup (and Spices).
When Kneeling Is Forbidden
Kneeling is only forbidden if it is for praying (except for prescribed prayers such as at “hayu kor'im” in Yom Kippur) or if it looks like praying, but there is nothing inherently wrong with kneeling for fun, gardening, or other purposes.
Fasts that Start 72 Minutes before Sunrise
All fasts start 72 minutes (normal time) before sunrise except for the Ninth of Av and Yom Kippur.  These include:
  • 17th of Tamuz
  • 10th of Tevet
  • Tzom Gedalia
  • Fast of Esther
  • Fast by a groom and bride on their wedding day
  • Fast for first-born males on the day before Passover. This includes first-born cohanim and Levites (levi'im).
Note Unlike most times in the Jewish calendar, this 72 minutes is normal time and NOT based on the current length of the day (sha'a zmanit).
Jewish Festivals: Yahrzeit Candle
Some people have the custom of lighting a yahrzeit candle for a deceased parent on days when yizkor is said: Yom Kippur, last day of Passover; second day of Shavuot; and on Shmini Atzeret.
Leather or Synthetic Shoes in Halacha
In Jewish law, only leather shoes are considered to be “shoes” for purposes of the Nine Days, mourning, Yom Kippur, shiv'a, or ritual impurity. Non-leather shoes may normally be worn during those periods.

Remarrying after a Wife Dies
If a wife dies, the husband must wait for three Jewish festival holidays to pass before remarrying (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur do not count for this purpose).
Forgetting Amida Additions for Ten Days of Repentance
If you forget a change or addition to the amida during the 10 Days of Repentance (between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), the only one for which you must return or repeat the amida is ha'melech ha'kadosh (third blessing).
Jewish Festival Day: When To Say Yizkor
Yizkor is not required to be said at all, but it is the custom in most places. Yizkor is normally said on Yom Kippur (and the final day of Passover, the second day of Shavuot and on Shmini Atzeret), when many people attend the synagogue prayer services.
Yizkor may be said anytime you wish—even when it is not a Jewish festival--and does not require a minyan.
When To Say Avinu Malkeinu
Say avinu malkeinu, even if you are praying by yourself, after amida of shacharit and mincha on:
  • Public fast days, and
  • Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.