What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur is a Jewish holiday. It is also called the "Day of Atonement" and is considered to be the holiest day of the year for Jewish people.
It is celebrated at the end of the High Holy Days, ten days after Rosh Hashanah. This occurs sometime during the months of September or October.
This day is a very serious day for Jewish people. They must fast, meaning that they do not eat or drink. They are also not allowed to work. They spend a good deal of the day praying and attending services at the synagogue. The day has five official prayer services.
The main thing Jewish people do on this day is ask God for forgiveness of their sins. This is called Teshuvah or repentance.
When is Yom Kippur?
24-25 September
Activities:
- Children to come to school in wearing something white - Most people celebrate Yom Kippur by wearing white.
- Invite and plan a festive meal with the children and educators to gather for lunch or for afternoon tea.
- Read Jonah and the Great Big Fish by Rhonda Gowler Greene which tales the story of Jonah in simple to follow rhyme: “God told Jonah to obey, said, ‘Go to Nineveh this day.’ But, stubborn Jonah fled instead. Didn’t do just what God said.”