Yom Kippur is the most solemn, holy day in the entire Jewish year. It is the day of atonement. Yom Kippur started at sundown on Friday and ended at sundown on Saturday. During that time, we could not eat, drink, wash anything except our hands and eyes, or wear leather shoes. Just like Ninevah in the story of Jonah, we tried to humble ourselves and ask for God's forgiveness for our wrongdoings.
For traditional Jews, this is the day that their sins are forgiven for the year. It is the day that the Book of Life is closed, and they pray that their name is written in it. For Messianic Jews and Christians, we know that our names are already in the Book of Life. We use this holiday to thank God for saving us and ask his forgiveness for hurting him after all he has done for us.
After sundown we broke our fast with a "feast." Kendra, my friend who was in charge of Yom Kippur, bought all the ingredients so we made rice, kreplachs (Jewish dumplings/raviolis that are filled with beef, boiled, and fried), and an amazing layered apple cake. We broke our fast with water (yes!) and then had a great time eating together. After dinner, we had a short service of confession and prayer. After that, we basically hung out and drank tea. It was an amazing day.
What's really exciting, is that Sukkot is in five days. Sukkot is a holiday that celebrates God's goodness to his people. I love how we have a holiday of fasting to ask his forgiveness, and it is immediately followed by a holiday to thank him for his forgiveness and faithfulness. It's amazing.
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