Bluenoemi Jewelry and Gifts - Wishes You Gmar Hatima Tova. Newsletter
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Dear Gmar Hatima Tova to you, your family and friends. Yom Kippur, known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of
the year for the Jewish people. We wish all of you and us Love Health Happiness and Peace! Need help or advise? Contact us at: - Whatsapp: + 972-52-6538686
- email: bluenoemispain@gmail.com
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Observing Yom Kippur - A Day of Reflection and Atonement As the High Holy Days approach, we turn our attention to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, one of the most sacred and solemn days in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur, which begins at sunset today and concludes at nightfall tomorrow, is a time for introspection, prayer, and seeking forgiveness. A Day of Reflection: Yom Kippur is a day for self-examination and reflection on our actions, both individually and collectively, over the past year. It's an opportunity to assess our relationships, deeds, and intentions. Fasting and Prayer: Many Jewish individuals observe Yom Kippur through fasting, refraining from food and drink for approximately 25 hours. This physical act of self-denial allows us to focus our thoughts on spiritual matters. Synagogue services are held throughout the day, featuring special prayers and the chanting of the Book of Jonah. Seeking Forgiveness: One of the central themes of Yom Kippur is seeking forgiveness from both God and our fellow human beings. We engage in the act of "Teshuvah" or repentance, acknowledging our mistakes, and making a sincere effort to rectify them. The Final Shofar Blast: Yom Kippur concludes with the sounding of the shofar, marking the end of this solemn day. It is a moment of hope and renewal, symbolizing the potential for forgiveness and a fresh start. In this time of reflection and repentance, may we all find the opportunity for growth, forgiveness, and a deeper connection with our faith and community. May you and your loved ones have a meaningful Yom Kippur, and may the year ahead be filled with blessings, health, and happiness. Wishing you an easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur. Shalom, Dina Bluenoemi Israeli Jewelry and Gifts
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF YOM KIPPUR According to tradition, the first Yom Kippur took place after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Descending from the mountain, Moses caught his people worshipping a golden calf and shattered the sacred tablets in anger. Because the Israelites atoned for their idolatry, God forgave their sins and offered Moses a second set of tablets. According to tradition, God judges all creatures during the 10 Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, deciding whether they will live or die in the coming year. Jewish law teaches that God inscribes the
names of the righteous in the “book of life” and condemns the wicked to death on Rosh Hashanah; people who fall between the two categories have until Yom Kippur to perform “teshuvah,” or repentance. As a result, observant Jews consider Yom Kippur and the days leading up to it a time for prayer, good deeds, reflecting on past mistakes and making amends with others. OBSERVING YOM KIPPUR Yom Kippur is Judaism’s most sacred day of the year; it is sometimes referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.” For this reason, even Jews who do not observe other traditions refrain from work, which is forbidden during the holiday, and participate in religious services on Yom Kippur, causing synagogue attendance to soar. Some
congregations rent out additional space to accommodate large numbers of worshippers. The Torah commands all Jewish adults (apart from the sick, the elderly and women who have just given birth) to abstain from eating and drinking between sundown on the evening before Yom Kippur and nightfall the next day. The fast is believed to cleanse the body and spirit, not to serve as a punishment. Religious
Jews heed additional restrictions on bathing, washing, using cosmetics, wearing leather shoes and sexual relations. These prohibitions are intended to prevent worshippers from focusing on material possessions and superficial comforts. Because the High Holy Day prayer services include special liturgical texts, songs and customs, rabbis and their congregations read from a special prayer book
known as the machzor during both Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. Five distinct prayer services take place on Yom Kippur, the first on the eve of the holiday and the last before sunset on the following day. One of the most important prayers specific to Yom Kippur describes the atonement ritual performed by high priests during ancient times. The blowing of the shofar—a trumpet made from a ram’s horn—is an essential and emblematic part of both High Holy Days. On Yom Kippur, a single long blast is
sounded at the end of the final service to mark the conclusion of the fast. TRADITIONS AND SYMBOLS OF YOM KIPPUR Pre-Yom Kippur feast: On the
eve of Yom Kippur, families and friends gather for a bountiful feast that must be finished before sunset. The idea is to gather strength for 25 hours of fasting. Breaking of the fast: After the final Yom Kippur service, many people return home for a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes, noodle pudding and baked goods. Wearing white: It is customary for religious Jews to dress in white—a symbol of purity—on Yom Kippur. Some married men wear kittels, which are white burial shrouds, to signify repentance.
Jewish Songs and PrayersLu Yehi by Noemi Shemer
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