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HOLY DAY

What time does Yom Kippur 2020 end in the UK?

YOM Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and marks the end of the Ten Days of Repentance.

This annual period is also known as the High Holy Days or Days of Awe which begins with the Jewish New Year Rosh Hashanah, and is marked by fasting and atonement.

 Themes of atonement and repentance are central to the Jewish celebration of Yom Kippur
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Themes of atonement and repentance are central to the Jewish celebration of Yom KippurCredit: Alamy

When does Yom Kippur 2020 end?

This year, Yom Kippur will end at sundown on Monday, September 28.

In the UK, this means it will end around 7.45pm and will be marked with a blast from the shofar, a trumpet made from a ram's horn.

By tradition, a Jewish day begins and ends at sundown.

Yom Kippur is a festival held on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.

This year, the tenth day was on September 27, according to the Western calendar.

What is Yom Kippur and how is it celebrated?

Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, repentance and worship.

Jewish families around the world mark the day of Yom Kippur by fasting for 25 hours.

Anyone who must eat due to health reasons will not be required to fast. Children under the age of nine are also exempted.

It is also known as the Day of Atonement, and when Jewish communities around the world reflect on the past year and ask God’s forgiveness for any sins they have committed.

Yom Kippur is also called the "Sabbath of Sabbaths", and is traditionally considered the day Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Observant Jews visit a synagogue to pray for most of the day, asking God to forgive their sins.

Five prayer services are held - instead of the traditional two. These are known as: Maariv, Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha and Neilah.

They are not allowed to wash or use perfumes or lotions, wear leather shoes, or have sex.

Many wear white as a symbol of purity.

The day before Yom Kippur is marked by giving to charity and a festive meal in the afternoon, perhaps including stuffed dumplings and challah bread dipped in honey.

Jews then fast for 25 hours.

After the fast, the meal could include kugel, a pudding made from egg noodles or potato.

 Jews believe God balances a person's good deeds over the past year against their wrongdoings
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Jews believe God balances a person's good deeds over the past year against their wrongdoingsCredit: Getty Images

What is the connection to Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah, often referred to as Jewish New Year, is a two day festival beginning on the first day of Tishri.

In 2020 it ran from sunset on September 18 to sunset on September 20.

Yom Kippur marks the end of the High Holy Days, also known as the Days of Awe or the Ten Days of Repentance which begin with Rosh Hashanah.

During this period, Jews are meant to reflect on their lives and resolve to improve themselves.

Jews believe God balances a person's good deeds over the past year against their wrongdoings.

By tradition, God writes down everyone's fate for the coming year at Rosh Hashanah, but the book is not sealed until the end of the Ten Days when people have atoned for their sins.

What do you say on Yom Kippur?

There are a number of greetings and well wishes to say to someone on Yom Kippur.

G'mar Chatima Tovah is the traditional greetings, and means "May you be sealed in the Book of Life".

According to Jewish tradition, your fate is written on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur.

Wishing someone to have an easy fast is also appreciated by saying "Tzom kal".

You can also say "Yom Tov" or "Good Yuntif", which mean "have a good holy day".


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