Yom Kippur 2012 falls on Wednesday, the 26th of September this year. Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year in Jewish religion and culture. It is also a day spent without eating or drinking.
According to the Jewish calendar, the Yom Kippur 2012 holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Yom Kippur on the sunset of Tuesday, the 25th of September.
It is also referred to as the "Day of Atonement," and the tradition is to solemnly fast for repentance and atonement of sins.
Yom Kippur marks the end of the annual High Holy Day period (Sept. 16 to Oct. 8 in 2012), which begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
In observance of Yom Kippur, one should eat and drink festively the day before, once early in the day and once later, before Kol Nidrei synagogue services. Then, for almost 25 hours, the day is spent in the synagogue without eating, drinking and other restrictions.
Going a day without eating "is to force us to look within ourselves, to repent, introspection," Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, who leads the Ohev Sholom National Synagogue in Washington, D.C., told NPR, without earthly distractions such as what to have for lunch getting in the way.
