DAY OF ATONEMENT Definition & Meaning

Day of Atonement

noun

Judaism.

Yom Kippur.

Day of Atonement

noun

another name for Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement

An annual day of fasting and prayer among the Israelites , still observed by their descendants, the present-day Jews (see also Jews ). It occurs in autumn, and its observance is one of the requirements of the Mosaic law . Jews call this day Yom Kippur .

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Day of Atonement¹

First recorded in 1810–20

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With each Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, I connected with a growing spirituality brewing within me.

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Synagogues across the country are bracing for bomb threats and “swatting” attacks as Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sunset on Sunday.

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Capitol Visitor Center days before the observance of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and a 10-day period of introspection leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

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It marks the start of the Jewish High Holidays, a 10-day season that ends with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

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Air Force Academy scheduled a key training exercise on Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, the most sacred day in the Jewish religious calendar.

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More About Day Of Atonement

What is the��Day of Atonement?

The Day of Atonement is Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday devoted to atoning for sins. It’s considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism.

Observation of the day is marked by fasting and prayers of repentance during a daylong service in the synagogue.

Yom Kippur is observed each year on the 10th day of Tishri, the first month of the Jewish calendar. Because the Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, the specific date on which Yom Kippur falls changes each year.

It is the culmination of a 10-day period of penitence that starts with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This period is referred to as the High Holidays or the Days of Awe.

Where does��Day of Atonement come from?

Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement because that’s what it literally means. Its name comes from the Hebrew words ��ō��, meaning “day,” and �쾱��ū��, meaning “atonement.”

According to Jewish tradition, the period that begins with Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur is when God renders judgment, so many Jews use the time to pray and make amends (atone) for the wrongs they have committed.

Yom Kippur is believed to originate with the story of God presenting Moses with the Ten Commandments, the first of which prohibits worshiping other gods. When Moses returned with the stone tablets that contained the commandments, he found the Israelites worshipping an idol in the form of a golden calf. Moses smashed the tablets in anger, but the Israelites atoned, and God forgave them and provided new tablets.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Day of Atonement?

How is��Day of Atonement discussed in real life?

Yom Kippur is referred to as the Day of Atonement and is considered the most important and holiest day of the year in Judaism. Many Jews spend the day in the synagogue reciting prayers of repentance.

As Jews worldwide prepare for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer)

Tonight is the start of the most holy time of the year for Jews, ; the Day of Atonement. Many people will fast, and head to synagogue to pray for forgiveness. It ends a week known as the High Holy Days.

— Gary Shapiro (@GShapiro9News)

G’mar Tov. Everyone could use an annual day of atonement, Jews and non-Jews alike. Reflect on your missteps, and learn from them.

— David Levitz (@DavidLevitz)

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Try using��Day of Atonement!

True or False?

Yom Kippur literally translates as “Day of Atonement.”

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