Yom Kippur is one of the most widely observed holidays on the
Jewish calendar. It marks the highest synagogue attendance rate
of any other day in the year. Despite its widespread observance
and long hours spent in synagogue, Yom Kippur is a difficult day
to understand. The major theme of Yom Kippur, as its name
implies, is atonement. The source for much of our observance of
Yom Kippur is Leviticus 23:26-28 – “God spoke to Moses, saying:
Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of
Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall
practice self-denial, and you shall do no work throughout that
day for it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on
your behalf before the Lord your God.”