Introduction

The holy day of Kom Yippur is marked on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, and falls in either September or October. Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement”. Jewish people are forgiven for their sins on this, the holiest day of the year.

On the 10th of Tishri, Moses brought the ten commandments down from Mount Sinai, written on tablets of stone. He had been away for a long time, and some people thought he would never return. When he returned to his people, the Israelites, they were worshipping a calf they had made out of gold. Moses was so angry that he threw the tablets down and broke them. He asked God for forgiveness for his people, and God gave Moses a second set of tablets with the commandments written on.

The day is observed from sunset to sunset. Adults often fast for this time, and some people wear white as a symbol of purity. No one is allowed to go to work. Prayer services are held in the synagogue. After the final service, people gather for a meal.

This video is full of information about Yom Kippur and how it is marked.

Teaching Ideas and Resources

• Write a story where the main character asks for forgiveness.
• Make a Yom Kippur greeting card.
• Think about a time when someone has forgiven you. What happened? How did it make you feel?