Yom Kippur is a critical time for Jews, when they believe God judges their actions.
Congregations across Maryland chanted the Kol Nidre Friday to open Yom Kippur and begin fasting until sunset today. In addition to fasting, some Jews abstain from driving, having sex, bathing and wearing leather shoes during Yom Kippur.
“It?s the only time when synagogues are packed,” said Rabbi Chaim Landau who has lead Ner Tamid Congregation Greenspring Valley Synagogue for the past 22 years. “Some people compress religious life into three days during Yom Kippur, praying inside the synagogue. … It?s a tradition to be there.”
Ten days before Yom Kippur, on Rosh Hashanah, “the book of life is opened up and past achievements are looked over by God,” said Frank Boches, co-president of B?nai Israel Congregation on Lloyd Street. “The book is left open and everyone?s future for the coming year is determined. On Yom Kippur, the book is sealed and everyone?s fate is recorded.”
Boches? congregation offered free tickets to high holidays, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, he said. ” We aren?t disregarding the older folks, but we decided we wanted and needed to reach out to younger people who possibly couldn?t afford to come otherwise.”
Rabbi Steven Schwartz of Beth El Congregation in Baltimore expects over 4,000 people to attend Yom Kippur services.
“People feel very invested and are grateful to be able to celebrate it as a community and be apart of it,” he said.
Yom Kippur to Rabbi Schwartz is a “rare, precious opportunity to take time out of your normal schedule for serious reflection. Unless you conciouslessly set aside time for it, you?ll never end up doing it.”
During Yom Kippur, congregations ask God and the people they sinned against for forgiveness, Rabbi Schwartz said. “Asking a person is trickier. To admit you?re wrong, have humility and apologize face to face is not an easy thing to do.”
