Yom Kippur Q&A

This custom stems from the obligation to recite 100 blessings each day.

Pills, suppositories and other quasi-medical treatment to ease the Yom Kippur fast.

Before the Yom Kippur fast, we eat a festive meal. Many also eat a festive meal earlier in the day. Why?

How about someone who abandoned a religious lifestyle because she was abused by the authority figures of that system?

Can I believe in the power of prayer when, in my experience, it hasn’t worked?

There are a number of reasons given for blowing the shofar at this time. Here are some of them . . .

According to Kabbalah, Kol Nidre is more than a technical vow-annulment procedure. Rather, by releasing our vows we are asking G‑d to reciprocate in kind . . .

That's all forgiveness means: You don't do anything because of your grudge, you don't say anything to express your grudge and you don't even think about why you have a grudge...

The rabbis determined that “affliction” means that we are to deny ourselves certain “luxuries.” Among them is wearing leather footwear.

While recognizing the sensitive condition of a pregnant woman, Torah law does not regard observing a single fast as posing a health danger to a normal, healthy, pregnant woman...

The milk supply does not diminish in that time span. Just do note that you have to fast but your baby doesn't, so be sure to continue nursing him/her normally throughout the fast...

You are correct in your observation that you will be limited as to what you will be able to do on your own on Yom Kippur. The Torah can only be read from a scroll when there are ten men...

Going without food for 24 hours is not a major stress for the body. Dehydration, however, is what causes that sense of weakness associated with the fast...

The story of Jonah teaches us how no one is beyond the reach of G‑d's hand...

According to chassidic teachings, Yom Kippur falling on Shabbat doesn’t “deprive” us of the pleasures which Shabbat normally affords us. Rather the extremely holy nature of Yom Kippur accomplishes the same objective . . .

Just as a healthy person fulfills a mitzvah by fasting; an ill person does a mitzvah by eating.

To maintain a high level of spirituality and character amongst a society that is devoid of morals and ethics is the real test. This is why Jacob chose these two boys to be his own...

Yom Kippur is the only day in the year in which a 5th prayer is recited. This final prayer is called Neilah...

I have been feeling guilty since Yom Kippur. Rather than spend the day in synagogue, I was forced to rush a friend of mine to the emergency room and spend the day in the hospital. It was a true medical emergency, and I did fast, but I still feel bad that I did not have the ability to pray as I normally do...

The traditional triangular pieces of dough filled with ground meat or chicken, similar to dumplings.

There’s a caveat here, something you really have to know: You can’t send a goat away unless you first take ownership of it.

When lighting the candles for Yom Tov, women recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu in addition to the blessing for kindling the lights for Yom Tov.

But I have observed that some boxes of Neronim come with metal “lids,” specially designed to raise the candle above the troublesome spike.

Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement.” The original name in the Torah is Yom Hakippurim, which means pretty much the same thing.

See how familiar you are with the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar…

Not sure what to wear when attending Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services? This article is for you.

Contrary to what one may expect, Kol Nidre is neither flowery nor inspiring (at first blush).