Yom Kippur: What to Say to Somebody Observing Jewish Vacation

When Yom Kippur begins at Sunset on Tuesday, Jewish individuals world wide will start to look at the holiest day of the 12 months of their faith. For 25 hours — till sunset on Wednesday, Oct. 9 — they’ll chorus from any food and drinks, together with water. They’ll spend nearly all of the day in synagogue, praying to God and repenting for his or her sins.

Not like Rosh Hashanah, which comes just some days earlier than Yom Kippur, the day just isn’t essentially joyous and festive, however solemn and reflective. Consequently, it isn’t customary to greet these observing with “Completely happy Yom Kippur,” though there aren’t essentially repercussions if you happen to do this. The perfect greeting to provide to somebody observing Yom Kippur in English is “have a simple quick.” For individuals who aren’t fasting, however are observing the Yom Kippur, you’ll be able to want them a “Good Yuntif,” or “Yom Tov,” that are Yiddish and Hebrew, respectively, for “Have an excellent holy day.”

A extra conventional greeting, and one particular to Yom Kippur, is “Gmar hatimah tovah,” or “Gmar tov,” which roughly interprets to “an excellent seal.” These observing the vacation consider that the e-book of life, which determines a person’s destiny for the approaching 12 months, opens on Rosh Hashanah, and is sealed on the finish of Yom Kippur following the interval of repentance.

Since Yom Kippur comes so shut after Rosh Hashanah, you’ll be able to say “Shana Tova,” or “Completely happy New Yr.”

Write to Alana Abramson at [email protected].