Welcome to the Congregation

for Humanistic Judaism

of Fairfield County, Connecticut
Serving the communities of Fairfield County and
beyond since 1967
203-226-5451

Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the most solemn holiday in the Jewish calendar, is associated with services that many Jews consider
traditional and longstanding. Yet Yom Kippur observances have evolved over the centuries in fascinating ways.

Yom Kippur and Rosh Hasshanah have always been connected. In traditional Judaism the days between "Yamin Noraim"
- translated as "the days of fear," or more commonly "the days of awe." Traditional Jews believe that during this period,
God sits in judgment of humankind and decrees and seals individual and collective fates. Accordingly, the traditional
greeting at this time of the year is: "L’shonoh tovah hikotevu: May you be inscribed for a good year."

HISTORY

Both holy days probably originated after the exile to Babylon (586 BCE) and superseded the agricultural festivals of
Succot, Shavuot, and Passover in religious importance. The Babylonians had a holy day called "kippuru" (sound
familiar?) on which the people purged themselves of sin before their god, Marduk, who also judged the world.

As one can imagine, such solemn occasions involved various rites, rituals and customs designed to appease the gods
and to protect oneself.

Tashlich. Many of the faithful went to a body of water, to empty their pockets of crumbs and cast away their sins. This
was thought to appease the evil spirits believed to inhabit the water. Many traditional congregations still go to a local
waterway to symbolically cast off their sins by throwing pieces of bread in the water.

Kaporis. A very primitive concept of passing evil to another object, in this case a rooster. The fowl is swung around the
head, destroyed, or given to the poor. In shtetl times, it often became the holiday dinner.

Scapegoat When the 2nd Temple was built (500 BCE), Yom Kippur was primarily a priestly holiday. Very elaborate rites
were used by the Chief Priest of Zadok including that of the "azazel goat". It this instance, the sins of the congregation
were symbolically placed as a red sash on a designated goat which was later driven out into the wilderness. A second
goat was sacrificed to Yahweh. The commandment for the Day of Atonement is in Leviticus 24, which instructs the
faithful "...and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the Lord." For good measure, the priests also sacrificed a
young bull.

Flogging. Hitting oneself with a short chain was popular until well into the Middle Ages. The custom of beating one’s
breast during traditional services probably derives from this custom.

After the destruction of the 2nd Temple by the Romans (70 CE), Judaism developed new forms. Synagogues replaced
the Temple and Rabbis replaced the priests. Many of the old customs were re-interpreted to accommodate new
circumstances, the practice which continues to this day.