Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the High Priest effected atonement for the entire people through an elaborate ritual. Today, in the absence of the Temple, each of us stands, alone, together, naked as it were, before God. Yom Kippur is the dramatic culmination of the entire season of teshuvah, repentance. It begins at sundown with the prayer of Kol Nidre, which its haunting melody that marks the start of the fast and sets the tone for the next 24 hours.
Referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths,” Yom Kippur holds a crucial place in the Jewish calendar. Beginning with Kol Nidre, we provide many options for community prayer and personal reflection at Temple Israel.
Many congregants find themselves spending much – or all – of the day at Temple, and we offer a selection of study/prayer sessions beginning in the early afternoon followed by Yizkor and Neilah services and an opportunity to break-the-fast as a community.
On Yom Kippur, traditional morning services are offered in our Kraft Sanctuary at 10:30 a.m. A family service for those with young children is usually held at 9:00 a.m.
