The Day of Atonement. An annual holiday on which we repent our sins and G-d forgives them
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Do I have to forgive a repeat offender?
If somebody has repeatedly wronged me (in the same way) in the past, am I obligated to keep forgiving him if he asks? On the one hand, maybe this time he finally is really doing teshuva; on the other ...
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340 views
Is the Book of Life ever really sealed?
In davening and in greetings, we always refer to the "sealing" of the Book of Life.
כתיבה וחתימה טובה1 we say; בראש השנה יכתבון וביום צום כיפורים יחתמון2 we pray.
Wikipedia says:
The High ...
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211 views
Is there tashlumin for n'ila?
Can one make up n'ila at the next prayer or the previous one at n'ila?
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3answers
251 views
Why not two days for all holidays?
For those outside of Israel the requirement is for two days of yom tov (and sometimes Rosh Chodesh), originally due to uncertainty and now due to tradition. But we don't do this for all holidays even ...
10
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3answers
91 views
Techniques for preparing for teshuva?
I'm attempting to prepare for Yom Kippur, and among the preparations is the issue of determining what, exactly, I should be focusing on during viduy this year. I'm curious whether there are any ...
8
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4answers
675 views
When can you build the sukkah?
My wife and I love the holiday of Sukkot, as do many of our friends. We build the sukkah every year and have friends over for an evening meal, preferably on shabbes - if someone else in our group of ...
8
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3answers
393 views
How do I avoid thirst when fasting?
I started fasting on Yom Kippur as an adult, about 10 years ago.
A couple times I had to drink a glass of water either after Kol Nidre or before Shacharit, because I felt completely dehydrated (I did ...
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4answers
145 views
Benching on yom kipper
If one must eat on yom kipper, does he make any day-specific additions during benching?
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3answers
195 views
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90 views
Why is Ein Kelokeinu not said on Yom Kippur?
Ein Kelokeinu isn't in my Yom Kippur Machzor, and as far as I can recall, it is not said in Shul after Musaf [or any time, for that matter]. Why is this so?
8
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1answer
165 views
If you use money for kaparos pre-yom kipur, is it fungible or must those bills go directly to tzedaka?
When we do Kaparos, we say "this money shall go to charity" -- so I put that dollar bill in the tzedaka box; is it okay if a few days from now I count what's in my tzedaka box, write a check for the ...
8
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1answer
141 views
Spitting at the High Priest on Yom Kippur
My question might sound a little complicated, but it actually boils down to something very simple: does anybody know of any references to a kohen gadol (a high priest) performing the procedure of ...
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3answers
178 views
Crocs on Yom Kippur?
Is one allowed to wear crocs on Yom Kippur? Or are they too comfortable or something???
7
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2answers
281 views
Origin of Mareh Kohen tune
Where did the popular tune for the Yom Kippur piyyut, מראה כהן, come from? Who wrote it? When did it originate? Where is it from? Does the tune have a name other than "that marei kohen tune"?
...
7
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3answers
173 views
What's so moving about Kol Nidrei
Wikipedia describes Kol Nidrei:
Though not a prayer, this dry legal formula and its ceremonial
accompaniment have been charged with emotional undertones since the
medieval period, creating a ...
7
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1answer
114 views
Kapparos on money - How much?
Is one does the Minhag of Kapparos on money - How much money should be used for each person? (sources)
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1answer
63 views
Do we make a bracha on a talis, the night of Yom Kippur?
The mitzvah of tziztit does not apply at night, so when we wear a talis all of davening on Yom Kippur, starting this year on Friday night for Maariv, do we make a bracha when we put the talis on?
Is ...
7
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1answer
130 views
Yom Kippur - nicotine patch
Is there any problem with wearing a nicotine patch on Yom Kippur or any other fast day? (sources please)
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1answer
120 views
Piyyutim on Yomim Noraim. Why do we split phrases against their meaning?
Why is it that in the davenning for Yomim Noraim, we split up the phrases in many of the piyyutim against their real meaning?
For example, in “Vechol maaminim shehu…” (p 538 Artscroll Machzor For Yom ...
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2answers
85 views
Pre existing flame for Havdala after Yom Kippur
Doe anyone know the reasoning for the requirement to use a flame that was lit over Yom Kippur for Havdala?
6
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2answers
93 views
Avinu Malkienu on Shabbos
Why do we not say Avinu Malkienu on Shabbos and why is the Teffilah of Neilah the exception to this very rule?
6
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1answer
152 views
Shema in Musaf Kedushah - Source and reason
I grew up on the Birnbaum siddur, I admit it. I read the little explanations at the bottom of the page over and over. Later, I bought a set of Artscroll machzorim and used those on Rosh Hashana and ...
6
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1answer
64 views
Striking the chest in the last few lines of Vidui
Towards the end of Vidui (על חטא section) there is a list of sins that are mentioned by punishment, instead of by type. Some people strike their chests while mentioning these sins, and some do not. ...
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2answers
88 views
Promising not to Destroy the World, and “I will Return the World to Water”
After the Mabul Hashem promised that he would not destroy the world. Yet we know from Tisha Bav and Yom Kippur's "Asarah Harugay Malchus" (“The Ten Martyrs”) poem that when they were going to kill Reb ...
6
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1answer
104 views
גמר חתימה טובה gender
During the nine and a half days ending with Yom Kipur, we wish each other "גמר חתימה טובה" (an end to the good signing). This seems very strange. Shouldn't it be "גמר חתימה טוב" (a good end to the ...
6
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2answers
138 views
Why does the Yom Kippur service seem to reenact Abraham's treatment of his sons?
In the Yom Kippur service during Temple times, the Kohen would (Lev 16:7-10ff):
And he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall ...
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1answer
263 views
Kiddush on Yom Kippur
If I must eat on Yom Kippur is there a Chiyuv To make Kiddush? If there is not Is there a situation where you do?
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0answers
38 views
Division of Al Cheit
Al Cheit has a chorus line ועל כולם, אלוה סליחות, סלח לנו, מחל לנו, כפר לנו after the first 20 Al Cheits, then after the next 12, then after the next 12. Who made this division? Why was it not divided ...
6
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2answers
179 views
Wearing Gold On Yom HaKippurim
Besides for the minhag that one should not wear jewelry on Yom HaKipurim because of the "fear of the judgment" there is also the minhag to not wear gold (even as a decoration on a tallis or kittel) ...
5
votes
2answers
106 views
How/why does kaparot work?
The ritual of kaparot [lit. atonement], which is usually done just prior to Yom Kippur (usually the day before), where one waves a chicken or an [unspecified] amount of money over one's head in a ...
5
votes
2answers
141 views
Is there a justification for the practice not to whip on Erev Yom Kipur?
The Shulchan Aruch (607:6) writes that on erev Yom Kipur, everyone gets whipped 39 lashes. However, I have not seen this done in practice. Is there any source who justifies the practice not to do ...
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votes
2answers
126 views
Us'shuva us'fila utz'daka maavirin… so what?
Why is so much emphasis given to the line "us'shuva us'fila utz'daka maavirin..." in the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur prayers? It seems to be the most emphasized line of all, with people shouting it and ...
5
votes
1answer
114 views
What is the shiur for anointing on Yom Kippur?
Is there a minimum shiur to be chayav for anointing on Yom Kippur, and, if so, what is it? The gemarah (Yoma 76b) seems to learn it out as a comparison to food consumption: would that mean it has the ...
5
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2answers
166 views
Why the difference in minhagim about wearing a kittel on Yom Kippur only, or also on Rosh Hashanah
My families minhag is to wear a kittel just on Yom Kippur (so I do). But in shul I see a number of folk with the minhag to wear it also on Rosh Hashanah.
I know it is related to Yom Hadin, and ...
5
votes
1answer
48 views
Would a replacement kohen gadol be anointed on yom kippur?
Here is what I know:
When a kohen gadol dies we replace him. In fact we've got a replacement kohen gadol waiting in the wings on yom kippur just in case
Any kohen who becomes kohen gadol gets ...
5
votes
2answers
43 views
Why by “Ut'shuva, Utefila UItzedaka” does it say “Zom, Kol, Mamon”?
On top of the words ut'shuvah utefila utzedakah1 in most machzorim it also says Zom, Kol, Mamon2.
Why zom on teshuvah if the Rambam's formula for teshuva (Hl. Teshuva 2) no mention of fasting; why ...
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1answer
77 views
Useshuva Usefillah Utzedakah maavirin es roah hagezeira, where is this from?
Does anyone know the history of how "Useshuvah Usefillah Utzedakah maavirin es roah hagezeirah" was put into our Tefillah and/or who wrote it? (It's in the chazaras hashatz for musaf on Rosh Hashana ...
5
votes
1answer
81 views
If the “ten martyrs” didn't happen together, did the punishment-for-Joseph story happen? When?
It's commonly believed that the "ten martyrs" didn't all live in the same time period, and the description of them as a group is conceptual, not historical.
Now the story opens with a Roman ruler ...
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1answer
314 views
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1answer
81 views
Death of two of Aharon's sons
On Yom Kippur we read Parshas Acharei Mos, which discusses the death of two of Aharon's sons. Medrash Vayikra Rabba 20:6 says that they died as they were drunk on wine (Shetuyei Yayin). How were they ...
5
votes
1answer
65 views
On Yom Kippur, why did Chachomim not want the people to know if the red thread had not turned white?
Originally a red thread was tied to the outside of the door of the Ulam on Yom Kippur. If the thread went white, it symbolised that the people’s sins had been forgiven and vice versa. Later the thread ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
How certain do I need to be that my Yom Kippur shoes are leather-free?
Okay, no leather shoes for Yom Kippur (or Tisha B'Av). I always assumed if the label said ALL MAN MADE MATERIALS or 100% CANVAS or something like that, that we could trust the label. (Would they ...
4
votes
2answers
102 views
Muktzeh Because its assur for me
The question is for food on Yom Kippur, or Gebrokts or Kitnyos on Pesach (for those that do not eat them), are they Muktzeh?
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1answer
145 views
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim?
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim on Yom Kipur?
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3answers
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1answer
73 views
Who wrote the piyutim of Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur?
I don't know if they are technically called "piyutim", but there is a nusach we say on Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur between "Ata Kadosh" to "Hamelech Hakadosh". Was that decreed by the Anshei Knesses ...
4
votes
2answers
127 views
Bowing to the floor on Yom Kippur
When you bow down completely to the floor on Yom Kippur many people place something on the ground so that they are not bowing directly on the ground.
Why? What is the halachic basis for this?
If ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
Order of punishments/responsibilities in viduy
In the viduy (confession) of Yom Kipur, we confess, and beg for forgiveness for, sins for which we're liable for
a sacrificial offering:
ola,
chatas,
ole v'yored, and
asham;
lashes prescribed by ...
4
votes
1answer
464 views
Mikvah in Shower
I know there is a way to do Tevilas Ezra( and hence erev yom Kippur Tevilah) in the Shower how is it done?
4
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1answer
53 views
Why does the Rambam require repentance, and not just more good deeds, before Yom Kippur?
The Rambam says if someone's virtues-vs-sins balance is even as of Rosh Hashanah, their verdict happens on yom kippur. If they did teshuva in those ten days, they get a pass; if not, they don't.
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