For most people tonight is Yom Kippur and they will begin this day with a fast. The fast starts at sunset and ends 25 hours later. This is the time to pray, fast, and seek pardon from the King of Glory, Yahweh Elohim for sins committed towards Him. There are many fasts that are talked about in the Bible, but this is the only one God has specifically commanded us to observed on a regular basis. It is a time to afflict our souls and make things right between us and God. May YHVH show us mercy and compassion and forgive us of our sins, transgressions, and iniquities.
Who is Required to Fast on Yom Kippur
- Adults
- Girls who are 12-years or older
- Boys who are 13-years or older
- Children older than nine are encouraged to eat less
Who is not Required to Fast on Yom Kippur
- Children under the age of nine
- Pregnant women
- Women who have recently given birth
- Anyone suffering from a life-threatening illness
Rules to Follow for Yom Kippur
- No eating or drinking
- No sexual relations
- No bathing
- No wearing leather shoes (The prohibition against wearing leather comes from a reluctance to wear the skin of a slaughtered animal while asking God for mercy.)
How to Fast on Yom Kippur
“Giving up food and drink is an important part of this Jewish holiday, the Day of Atonement, because it helps focus the mind on repentance. Stay strong mentally and physically with these tips.”
Transcript of Video
This is the transcription of the video above. You can skip to the next section if you’ve listened to the video.
Step 1: Know the rules
Know the rules: You are not allowed to eat or drink for 25 hours, beginning at sunset and ending one hour after sunset the next day. Boys under age 13, and girls under age 12, pregnant and nursing women, the sick, and the elderly are all exempt from the full fast.
Tip: Some Jews do not even brush their teeth on Yom Kippur because water would pass their lips.
Step 2: Taper off favorite foods
Prepare your body in the days leading up to the fast by tapering off any food or beverages that you rely on to get through the day.
Tip: The no drinking rule includes coffee! Addicts should cut down on their java several days ahead of time to prevent a caffeine-withdrawal headache.
Step 3: Prevent dehydration
Prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of water and eating water-rich foods, like fruit, in the hours leading up to the fast. Avoid things that deplete your body of water, like salt, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks.
Step 4: Carefully choose your last meal
Choose foods with staying power for your last pre-fast meal. Potatoes, fish, whole wheat pasta, oranges, and apples are among the most filling foods.
Step 5: Break fast carefully
Break your fast by drinking a glass or two of milk or juice before eating solid foods; it will prevent you from eating too much and too rapidly.
Did You Know?
The Talmud also forbids bathing, wearing leather, and having sexual intercourse on Yom Kippur.
Prayer
In places of worship around the world people will gather together to begin their time of repentance. The evening service is called “Kol Nidre (All Vows)” and it is the name of the opening prayer. This prayer asks God to forgive any vows we may make to God and will not keep.
Kol Nidre (All Vows) Prayer
Prohibitions, oaths, consecrations, vows that we may vow, swear, consecrate, or prohibit upon ourselves — from this Yom Kippur until the next Yom Kippur, may it come upon us for good — regarding them all, we regret them henceforth.
They will all be permitted, abandoned, cancelled, null and void, without power and without standing. Our vows shall not be valid vows; our prohibitions shall not be valid prohibitions; and our oaths shall not be valid oaths.
Al Khet
Al Khet is repeated at intervals throughout the service. This prayer asks for forgiveness for a variety of sins that may have been committed during the year. These sins are everyday offenses like hurting those we love, lying to ourselves or using foul language.
“When Al Khet is recited people gently beat their fists against their chests as each sin is mentioned. Sins are mentioned in plural form because even if someone hasn’t committed a particular sin, Jewish tradition teaches that every Jew bears a measure of responsibility for the actions of other Jews.” (http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/yomkippur.htm)
Al Chet Prayer
This section was taken from “The Text of Al Chet.”
(The “Al Chet” confession of sins is said ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services: Following the Amidah of the afternoon prayers of the day before Yom Kippur; just before sunset on Yom Kippur Eve; and twice during each of the following services–the evening service of yom Kippur eve, and the morning service, the Musaf service and the afternoon service of Yom Kippur day–once at the end of the Silent Amidah, and once during the cantor’s repitition of the Amidah.)
For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by hard-heartedness.
For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.
And for the sin which we have committed before You with an utterance of the lips.
For the sin which we have committed before You with immorality.
And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly.
For the sin which we have committed before You with knowledge and with deceit.
And for the sin which we have committed before You through speech.
For the sin which we have committed before You by deceiving a fellowman.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by improper thoughts.
For the sin which we have committed before You by a gathering of lewdness.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by verbal [insincere] confession.
For the sin which we have committed before You by disrespect for parents and teachers.
And for the sin which we have committed before You intentionally or unintentionally.
For the sin which we have committed before You by using coercion.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by desecrating the Divine Name.
For the sin which we have committed before You by impurity of speech.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by foolish talk.
For the sin which we have committed before You with the evil inclination.
And for the sin which we have committed before You knowingly or unknowingly.
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.
For the sin which we have committed before You by false denial and lying.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by a bribe-taking or a bribe-giving hand.
For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by evil talk [about another].
For the sin which we have committed before You in business dealings.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by eating and drinking.
For the sin which we have committed before You by [taking or giving] interest and by usury.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by a haughty demeanor.
For the sin which we have committed before You by the prattle of our lips.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by a glance of the eye.
For the sin which we have committed before You with proud looks.
And for the sin which we have committed before You with impudence.
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.
For the sin which we have committed before You by casting off the yoke [of Heaven].
And for the sin which we have committed before You in passing judgment.
For the sin which we have committed before You by scheming against a fellowman.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by a begrudging eye.
For the sin which we have committed before You by frivolity.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by obduracy.
For the sin which we have committed before You by running to do evil.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by tale-bearing.
For the sin which we have committed before You by swearing in vain.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by causeless hatred.
For the sin which we have committed before You by embezzlement.
And for the sin which we have committed before You by a confused heart.
For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.
And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a burnt-offering.
And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a sin-offering.
And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a varying offering [according to one’s means].
And for the sins for which we are obligated to bring a guilt-offering for a certain or doubtful trespass.
And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of lashing for rebelliousness.
And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of forty lashes.
And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of death by the hand of Heaven.
And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of excision and childlessness.
And for the sins for which we incur the penalty of the four forms of capital punishment executed by the Court: stoning, burning, decapitation and strangulation.
For [transgressing] positive and prohibitory mitzvot, whether [the prohibitions] can be rectified by a specifically prescribed act or not, those of which we are aware and those of which we are not aware; those of which we are aware, we have already declared them before You and confessed them to You, and those of which we are not aware — before You they are revealed and known, as it is stated: The hidden things belong to the Lord our God, but the revealed things are for us and for our children forever, that we may carry out all the words of this Torah. For You are the Pardoner of Israel and the Forgiver of the tribes of Yeshurun in every generation, and aside from You we have no King who forgives and pardons.
What wisdom can you share with us concerning fasting? How has fasting affected your life? What answered prayers have you seen as a direct result of fasting? Share your wisdom below in the comment section.