Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish year, a solemn day of fasting and prayer focused on seeking forgiveness and making amends. The name means “Day of Atonement” in Hebrew. Jews around the world observe this day by not eating or drinking for 25 hours, spending much of the time in synagogue, and reflecting seriously on their behavior over the past year.

The day falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and marks the end of a period called the High Holy Days. During Yom Kippur, people think carefully about mistakes they've made and ways they've hurt others, asking for forgiveness both from God and from the people they've wronged. Many Jews believe this is the day when God seals the Book of Life for the coming year.

Even Jews who don't regularly attend synagogue often observe Yom Kippur, making it one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. The day ends with the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn that makes a long, powerful sound signaling the conclusion of the fast. While the fasting is challenging, many people find Yom Kippur meaningful because it offers dedicated time to reflect, reset, and commit to being better in the year ahead.