YOM KIPPUR EXPLAINED: YORAM ETTINGER
Yom Kippur Guide for the Perplexed
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger,\Based on Jewish Sages
1. Yom Kippur’s central theme is the plea for forgiveness from fellow
human-beings, highlighting the most essential attributes of constructive
leadership, healthy relationships and family and national cohesion: humility
(admitting fallibility), faith, soul-searching, thoughtfulness, being
considerate, compassion, accepting responsibility, minimizing personal
hostility, magnanimity. In order to penetrate the heart of fellow
human-beings, the plea for forgiveness must emanate from the heart. Yom
Kippur is not driven by punishment, but by behavioral-enhancement.
2. The Jubilee – sanctifying each 50th year by proclaiming liberty, as
inscribed also on the Liberty Bell – is announced by blowing the Shofar (a
ritual horn) on Yom Kippur. The Jubilee liberates persons physically and
spiritually. The word “jubilee” is a Hebrew synonym for “Shofar.” Yom Kippur
and Jubilee highlight the subordination of human-beings to God.
3. Yom Kippur culminates the ten days of a genuine, heart-driven
atonement/repentance, which begin on the first day of the Jewish month of
Tishrei – an Akkadian word for forgiveness and Genesis. It is observed on
the tenth day of Tishrei. Ten has special significance in Judaism: G-D’s
abbreviation is the tenth Hebrew letter (Yod – é); Ten attributes of God –
Divine perfection – during the Creation; the Ten Commandments; the Ten
Plagues; Ten reasons for blowing the Shofar; Ten percent gift to God
(tithe); The Ten Martyrs (Rabbis who were tortured/murdered by the Roman
Empire); Ten generations between Adam & Noah and ten generations between
Noah & Abraham; a Ten worshippers quorum (Minyan) is required for a
collective Jewish prayer; etc.
4. Yom Kippur is a Happy Jewish Holiday, replacing vindictiveness and rage
with peace-of-mind and peaceful co-existence between God and human-beings
and primarily among human-beings. Yom Kippur emphasizes God’s Covenant with
the Jewish People, ending God’s rage over the sin of the Golden Calf and
commemorating Abraham’s circumcision, which initialed God’s covenant with
the Jewish People.
5. The Hebrew word Kippur ëéôåø (atonement/repentance) is a derivative of
the Biblical words Kaporet ëôåøú – which covered the Holy Ark at the
Sanctuary – and Kopher ëåôø, which covered Noah’s Ark and the Holy Altar at
the Temple. The reference is to a spiritual cover (dome), which does not
cover-up, but separates between the holy and the mundane, between
spiritualism and materialism. The Kippa ëéôä (skullcap, Yarmulke), which
covers one’s head during prayers, reflects a spiritual dome. Thus, Yom
Kippur constitutes the cover (Dome) of the Ten Days of Atonement (between
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), separating them from the rest of the year.
6. Yom Kippur calls for Teshuvah-úùåáä, which is the Hebrew word for
repentance. The root of Teshuvah is similar to root of the Hebrew word for
Return ùéáä – returning to positive God-inspired values – and Shvitah ùáéúä
– cessation (strike) of mundane thoughts and actions and eating. It is also
similar to the root of Shabbat ùáú. Yom Kippur is also called Shabbat
Shabbaton – the supreme Sabbath. The last Sabbath before Yom Kippur is
called Shabbat Teshuvah (based on Hosea’s prophesy, chapter 4). While the
Sabbath is the soul of the week, Yom Kippur is the soul of the year.
7. The Hebrew spelling of “fast” (öí/öåí) – abstinence from food – reflects
the substance of Yom Kippur. The Hebrew word for “fast” is the root of the
Hebrew word for “reduction” and “shrinking” (öîöåí) of one’s wrong-doing.
It is also the root of the Hebrew words for “slave” (öîéú) and “eternity”
(öîéúåú) – enslavement to God, but not to human-beings. “Fast” is also the
root of òöîé (being oneself), òöåí (awesome), òöîä (power), òöîàåú
(independence), which are gained through the process of fasting,
soul-searching, spiritual enhancement and trust in God.
8. The prayer of Veedooi-åéãåé (confession/confirmation/reaffirmation in
Hebrew) is recited Ten times during Yom Kippur, re-entrenching genuine
repentance and plea for forgiveness. The prerequisites for forgiveness are
the expression & exercise (talking & walking) of confession; assuming
full-responsibility for one’s (mis)behavior, and significantly altering
one’s behavior. King Saul sinned only once – ignoring the commandment to
annihilate the Amalekites – but was banished from the crown and killed,
because he shirked responsibility, while responding to Samuel’s accusation.
King David sinned twice (The “Bat-Sheba Gate” and the “Census Gate”), but
was forgiven, because he accepted full-responsibility and the death sentence
(as proclaimed by Nathan the Prophet), which was promptly rescinded.
9. The initial prayer on the eve of Yom Kippur, Tefilah Zakah (pure
prayer), enables each worshipper to announce universal forgiveness. While
transgressions between human-beings and G-D are forgiven summarily via
prayers, transgressions among human-beings require explicit forgiveness.
Ill-speaking of other persons may not be forgiven.
10. The Memorial Candle, commemorating one’s parent(s), is lit during Yom
Kippur. It reaffirms Honor Thy Father and Mother, providing another
opportunity to ask forgiveness of one’s parent(s), as well as asking
forgiveness on their behalf.
11. The Scroll of Jonas is read on Yom Kippur. It demonstrates that
repentance and forgiveness is universal to all Peoples, commanding one to
assume responsibility, to get involved socially-politically, to sound the
alarm when wrong-doing is committed anywhere in the world, to display
compassion for all peoples and to adhere to Faith and Optimism, in defiance
of all odds. It behooves good folks to roll up their sleeves, lest evil
triumphs!
12. A long sound of the Shofar concludes Yom Kippur. It commemorates the
covenant with God (the almost-sacrifice of Isaac), the receipt of the Torah
on Mt. Sinai, Liberty (Jubilee) and the opening of Gods gates of
forgiveness. The Hebrew root of Shofar ùåôø means to enhance/improve oneself
(ùôø). A Hebrew synonym for Shofar is Keseh ëñä, which also means
cover-Kaporet-Kippur.
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