The Jewish holiday Yom Kippur began yesterday evening and will continue until evening today. 

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year and it occurs in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar on the tenth day of Tishrei, according to Chabad. 

“Today is a day of cleansing, as Rosh Hashannah was last week, which is Jewish New Year.” sophomore Sophie Levy said. “I am fasting today because I want to reflect on my choices in the past year,”

The school held a chapel to observe the Jewish High Holy Days two weeks ago, before the start of Rosh Hashanah. In Thursday Notes, prayers are included for Yom Kippur in the LIFE section, according to Head of Community Life Paul Pryor Lorentz.

“Within the department of Religion, Theology, & Spirituality, we seek to create opportunities for students to share their faith backgrounds and to acknowledge and understand many religious traditions,” Lorentz said. “As a Catholic school, we should work to realize our deep spiritual bonds with Judaism and to appreciate, in its own right, the wisdom and beauty of this 4000 year old religion,”

The name ‘Yom Kippur’ means ‘Day of Atonement’, and it is a day set aside to atone for the sins of the past year. Most of the holiday is spent in the synagogue, in prayer, and the services end at nightfall, according to Jewish Virtual Library.  

“Observing other religions’ holidays has helped me have a better understanding of people around me,” junior Scarlett Farr said. “I appreciate that the morning announcements always show the religious and cultural events from around the world,”

On Yom Kippur, no work can be performed and practicing people should  refrain from eating and drinking. Yom Kippur is traditionally a 25-hour fast, beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and concluding after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur itself, according to Jew FAQ. 

“I really like that our school highlights traditions from other religions,” Levy said. “It is nice to know that we are getting a well rounded view of the world around us.”