Fasting on Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the only fast day decreed in the Bible. Abstaining from the pleasure of food is meant to improve one's ability to focus on repentance. The Yom Kippur fast is a 25-hour fast that begins before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ends after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur.

Why fast on Yom Kippur?

Spiritual elevation is a pre-requisite for true repentance. One way to achieve spiritual elevation is to abstain from the physical. Five physical activities are forbidden on Yom Kippur:

1. eating and drinking
2. marital relations
3. washing
4. wearing leather shoes
5. applying lotions

What are the best ways to prepare for the Yom Kippur fast?

While feeling hunger pains is an acceptable part of the fast experience, one need not dehydrate, faint or get sick while fasting. There are several ways to prepare oneself physically for a healthy fast.

• Days before the fast, caffeine intake should be minimized.
• The day before the fast, eat something small every two hours, avoid caffeine and salt, and drink as much water as possible.
• Plan the final meal before the fast early enough in the afternoon to avoid rushing to finish before the fast begins.
• Plan the menu of this final meal so that it contains high carbohydrate and low salt foods.
• Do not eat too much in the meal before the fast, but drink plenty of water.
• Leave time after the meal to drink warm water with sugar and brush teeth.

* Print this Yom Kippur Fast Prep Sheet to post in the kitchen a few days before Yom Kippur.

What food is best to eat before the fast?

According to the Talmud, eating the day before Yom Kippur is a mitzvah equal to the mitzvah of fasting on the day of Yom Kippur. The festive meal before the fast is called Seudah Mafseket ("final meal"). While we do not say kiddush over the wine at this meal, we do bless the challah. Meat is not eaten during this meal, but poultry can be eaten. It is traditional to eat soup, but important to put as little salt and seasoning in the soup as possible. The boiled turkey or chicken from the soup can be served as a healthy pre-fast entree. It is also traditional to serve the soup with kreplach, dough filled with potato, because we hope any strict judgment from God will be covered with kindness.

* Recipes for the Yom Kippur Pre-Fast Meal

What food is best to eat after the fast?

Most people break the fast with dairy food. In my synagogue in Israel we break the fast together with cakes and tea. In the Diaspora, family and friends often break fast together at someone's home. Bagels with cream cheese and lox is a popular break fast menu. Coffee cake is often served also.