Question

Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Atonement. It is the conclusion of a 10 day period of repentance that began on Rosh HaShanah also known as a Day of Judgment. These days are for reflection, self-examination, consideration of our ethical and moral responsibilities, and it is provides each participant in this system an opportunity to restore relationships with other human beings and with God. Both relationships are part of Yom Kippur.

We are first to acknowledge our "sins" against others, and then make reparations. In turn, we ask for forgiveness and it is expected that just as each of us hopes that others will forgive us, we are expected to forgive others for their sins against us. Thereafter, we can turn to our failures in our relationship with God. We are assured that if we are sincere in our repentance, then God will forgive us.

The 25-hour period of fasting, worship, and thoughtful reflection on the past year is intended to encourage an inner change, a "return" to living life as God and our tradition expects of us. The discipline of the day is intended also to encourage a sense of awe and the practice of restraint in the arena of our "drives," such as hunger, sex or anger - and we are guided toward a more spiritual and meaningful way of life.

To know what is regarded as the sins for which we need to repent, acquire a High Holy Day prayerbook - perhaps from a synagogue - you can read through the "confessional" that occurs in each recitation of the Amidah, the so-called "Silent Devotion."

So, we can be forgiven by other human beings and by God.

I encourage you to check the article in jewishencyclopedia.com on-line and/or "The Yom Kippur Anthology" by Philip Goodman, published by the Jewish Publication Society and available in most Jewish bookstores or synagogue libraries.