Yom Kippur means the Day of Atonement. Atonement means making up for something you have done wrong. It is the holiest day in the Jewish year.

Yom Kippur is a fasting day that lasts from sunset to sunset. During this 25 hours of fasting many Jews do not touch water or food and some Jews do not wear any symbol of luxury, such as leather shoes. In this way, they try to atone from all their wrong doings. They also remember those who are suffering in the world.

Saving life and being healthy are very important to Jews. No-one is to risk their health by not eating and drinking. Jews who are sick or weak, pregnant women and mothers who are breast-feeding eat and drink normally on the day of Yom Kippur.

In the synagogue, the Ark and the reading desk are covered in white cloth. White is the symbol of purity. The people leading the service wear white too. The services are the longest in the Jewish year. They begin in the evening, start again in the morning and go on all day. There is an extra service just before sunset.

The first service begins with the chanting of a special prayer, the kol nidre. This prayer asks God to release people from vows that they are unable to fulfil. In the morning, the reading is from Leviticus chapter 16 which gives the command for keeping Yom Kippur. Chapter 16 also speaks of all the sins of the people being placed onto a goat which was then driven out into the wilderness in the hope that it would carry the sins away. Then later in the afternoon, the story of Jonah is read.

During the final service, the doors of the ark are left open to symbolise that God is open to those who repent. At the end of the service, the doors are closed to show that God has made his judgement.

Finally, a single blast from the shofar means that the fast is over and forgiveness has come.

Yom Kippur is serious but not sad. Some prayers are sung to very lively tunes because Jews feel that it is an privilege to be able to say sorry to a forgiving God.