Let the Festivals Commence

Sunday, October 05, 2008

This morning while we were listening to conference a loud voice began to sing in Hebrew. I thought it was just our neighbors across the street jamming out on a Sunday afternoon but the voice kept getting louder and louder. So we opened up our window, only to find a giant party walking right past our building. It was crazy we felt like we had stepped into a different country. Now I'm sure you know that Blake and I always love a good party so we took the puppies and sat out on our fire escape and enjoyed the festivities. Below I have provided a little information about the event and what it in tales. Today is NOT Yom Kipper according to the Jewish calendar but we think they were just having a party to kick it all off since it begins this coming week.

It's hard to see in the video but the men are all dancing around the giant silver Torah

YOM KIPPUR means the Day of Atonement, because it is the day on which they atone for all of their sins. Yom Kippur is a day of prayer. They go to the synagogue, and pray and meditate, thinking about the past year, and of all the good things that they did and of the not so good things. Then they take time to feel bad for those things and decide that they will never do those things again. They then ask God to forgive them for anything inappropriate they may have done.

Eat!
On the afternoon before Yom Kippur they eat a festive meal.

Light Candles
 Girls and their mothers light candles 18 minutes before sunset in their city (the time must be exact)

Each girl lights one candle, then sway their hands three times around the candles and recite the following blessings:

1) Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to light the candle of Yom Kippur.

2) Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

Change your Shoes
 On Yom Kippur they do not wear leather shoes

Fasting
 All girls over 12 years old and boys over 13 years old must fast.

Shofar
 At the end of the day, the whole congregation recites the Shema and a few other verses out loud together, then the shofar is sounded for one long blast. After that they say: "Next Year in Jerusalem." and recite the evening services and the fast is over.


P.S. All this info came from a jewish children's website
the adult infomation was very complicated.

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