Yom Kippur

She never entered a synagogue—but she prayed all day, with her whole heart.

Racheli Otmazgin grew up in a traditional household and was first exposed to a Yom Kippur prayer at 15, sparking a life change that led to hidden Torah lessons, studying in an ultra-Orthodox seminary, and building a home with a Torah scholar husband. How did her parents react?

The Yom Kippur fast presents a significant dilemma for diabetics and their doctors. Jewish law only exempts those whose lives are in danger from fasting. However, those who risk their health by fasting should not do so. Should diabetics fast? And what can be done to make fasting easier?

Discover the best foods to consume before the Yom Kippur fast to avoid overburdening your digestive system while ensuring you don't feel distressingly hungry during the fast.

Essential laws for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar

Essential guidelines for preparing for this sacred day of atonement

One should ensure that the fire used for the blessing is from a candle that "rested." That is, a candle lit before Yom Kippur, or a candle lit from another candle that was burning since before Yom Kippur, which during Yom Kippur itself was forbidden to use for lighting fire.

Essential laws for Yom Kippur you need to know

Essential laws about fasting and restrictions on Yom Kippur from the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Essential fast day regulations from the rulings of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Essential guidelines for eating and drinking on Yom Kippur for those medically required to do so

How to awaken Esther’s dawn light with charity, prayer, and intention — to open the gates of blessing and turn judgment into redemption before Purim

Rabbi Naftali Halperin, National Halacha Coordinator at United Hatzalah, offers guidance yearly on Yom Kippur eve to those with doubts about fasting, including women before or after childbirth and others with complex situations. In a fascinating conversation, he details the halachot and shares an inspiring prayer for those partaking in the mitzvah of eating on Yom Kippur.

Are your white fabric sneakers looking a little grimy? Before you rush out to grab a new pair for Yom Kippur, try this brilliant tip to make them shine again—you won't be disappointed!

Ahead of Yom Kippur, here is a list of centers staffed by rabbis and doctors, ready to listen to your questions and provide detailed and responsible answers based on your individual circumstances.

Understanding the purpose of life’s challenges, letting go of fear, and embracing faith for spiritual and emotional growth

How One of the Greatest Failures in Jewish History Became a Blueprint for Atonement