Festivals | Tishrei
Yom Kippur
by Dov Goldflam & Gila Ansell Brauner
The source for Yom Kippur [The Day of Atonement]
is Vayikra [Leviticus] Ch.23, v.27, where it is mentioned as the
day when the sin of the golden calf was forgiven the People of
Israel in the desert, and it was decreed for all generations [for
all time] as a day for atonement of the Temple, the Holy, the
Tabernacle, the Altar, the Priests and all the people.
For intermediate and older students:
Discussion points
- The VIDUI prayers [of confession and for forgiveness] are
in the plural. How is the community important in helping people
to improve themselves? Why is it significant that people are
not expected to name their own specific shortfalls? What does
this say about the fallibility of man and individualism?
- What effect does fasting have on a whole community - and you,
personally? Which is more important - to pray in the community,
if this will mean needing to eat - or to stay at home and
fast? What sort of exemptions have there always been from
the obligation to fast?
- Which prayers or readings have the greatest impact on you?
Why?
- Allow students the time to compose a personal prayer they
would like to say on Yom Kippur.
Acknowledgments
The activities below were adapted and extended from a monthly
series on Teaching Israel, produced and edited by Mr. Yitzhak
Zucher at the former Pedagogic Center of the Department for Torah
Education and Culture in the Diaspora.
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