The Yom Kippur fast begins just before sundown. Kol Nidrei prayer services are held at synagogues around
the country with the Ne'ilah service ("Locking of the Gates"approximately an hour and a half before sundown.
The day before Yom Kippur at the open market, Jewish families perform a ceremonial slaughter of a chicken,
twirling it over their heads - a subsitute for the blood sacrifice needed for the forgiveness of sins.
Chicken Blood Sacrifices
A modern-day substitute for the Temple blood offering.
By about 2:00 pm on the afternoon just before the Day of Atonement begins, all traffic in the country
will come to a complete halt and children will be able to ride their bicycles in the streets for 24 hours. Following the synagogue
service in the evening, whole families will be walking through the streets until the wee hours of the morning.
The roads on Yom Kippur with no cars driving!
Children playing in the streets of Jerusalem
For 24 hours, no food or water is taken, except by children and the sick; all TV cable is halted and
places of entertainment are closed. The synagogues were filled with fervent worshipers.
The weather is usually hot and dry throughout the Land, making the fast especially difficult. When
three stars can be sighted in the evening sky, the fast is considered officially over. Following the evening meal, the sounds
of hammers will be heard over the city - families building the sukkah in preparation for the upcoming Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles).
Sukkot - Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, as it is in known in Hebrew is a celebration of the harvest. Traditionally, each
family builds a "sukkah" for the weeklong holiday in remembrance of when the Jewish people lived in temporary huts in the
wilderness as they were en route to the Promised Land.
In ancient times, these temporary flimsy structures served as shelters from the intense dry heat of the long summer days
as the harvest of fruits and vegetables were brought in from the fields.
Biblical hut structure for ingathering harvest
used by Israeli farmers
Celebrating the biblical Feast of Tabernacles reminds Israeli's of the time when they wandered through the desert and
slept under the stars. It is a reminder of God's amazing provision for His people as He lead them to His Land, the Promised
Land.
Ein Gedi Desert biblical-type family sukka
Neot Kedumim, Israel
Sukkot is the "ingathering" and a pilgrimage festival where Israeli's are expected to make their way up to Jerusalem,
bringing their offerings to God with them.
Today, because there is no Temple, Jewish pilgrims still make their way up to Jerusalem and pray at the Wall with their
carefully selected Four Species.
Inspecting the elements of the 4 Species.
This is also the day that the head rabbi's offer prayers and blessings for the House of Israel.
For seven days, modern Israeli families take their meals in the sukka. When you go to a restaurant or coffee shop downtown,
a sukka is set up for customers to eat in as well.
A modern sukkah can vary according to each household preference. Our family prefers to a Bedouin-style with a carpet
on the floor, large couch-like cushions, pillows and blankets and throws. In the center of the sukkah is a very large brass
round table sitting low to the ground, giving a very intimate and cozy feel. We usually have twinkling lights and lots of
hanging ornaments from the ceiling. My married children are still excited to come and help decorate the succa! I reward them
all - including their friends - with delicious meals reflecting the bountiful harvest of God's provision for us.
We have much to be thankful for, and look forward to a blessed year.
