Tuesday 21 September 2010

Yom Kippur

This morning in assembly, we looked at the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year, celebrated ten days after Rosh Hashanah. On this day a candle is lit to remember loved ones and generous gifts are given to charities.

It is a day when Jewish people make up for the things that they have done wrong and ask God for forgiveness. All adults (girls over 12 and boys over 13) fast for 25 hours from sunset to when the stars come out the following night. Services are held in the synagogues, the final one lasting about one and a half hours. The rabbi dresses in white. Afterwards, families gather to break their fast.

It is a time to think. A time to reflect. A time to think about doing things differently. It's about stopping saying 'I can't' and becoming an 'I can' person.