The Halachot of Yom Kippur

“Erev” Yom Kippur

• Yom Kippur does not atone for sins towards your fellow man until you are forgiven by them. It is therefore very important to ask forgiveness from all those that you may have harmed in any way.
• There is a special mitzvah to eat on the eve of Yom Kippur.
• Drinking is very important before the fast, and it is my advice to drink a glass of water every half-hour before the fast.
• There is a custom to do “kapparot” on the eve of Yom Kippur. Some use a live chicken, while others use money (at least 20 shekels per person is recommended as the price of a meal) and subsequently donate it to charity.
• At “mincha” we say “viduy” and “al chet”.
• The “seuda mafsechet” (last meal) is to be finished before shkia, as there is a mitzvah to add on to Yom Kippur, by accepting the fast at least a few minutes before “shkia”.
• Two candles are lit, as on Erev Shabbat, and the table is covered with a white tablecloth, as on Shabbat.

Fasting

• All must fast, even pregnant and nursing mothers.
• A woman who has just given birth or had a miscarriage does not fast until three days after the delivery. From the third day till the seventh, if she wishes to fast she may, but otherwise is exempt.
• A pregnant woman who while fasting, says that she needs to eat, must be fed. The same applies to any person who says so, even if a doctor disagrees.
• A pregnant woman who is having contractions is exempt from fasting.
• A child under the age of nine should not fast.
• A child between the ages of nine and eleven may fast for a few hours according to their strength.
• From age eleven till twelve for a girl and thirteen for a boy, if the child is fit they should fast. If they are not, they should not.
• A girl from the age of twelve and a boy from the age of thirteen should fast if they can.
• Whenever a doctor says that someone should not fast, the doctor’s advice should be followed.
• One who takes regular medication must consult with a doctor as to whether they can miss a day. If they cannot, the medication should be taken with the minimum amount of water required.
• A sick person who says they must eat should be fed, even if a doctor were to say it is not necessary, as they know best.
• The old and frail should not fast.
• If you are eating on the fast, the sick whose lives are in danger, should eat and drink all they need, while the sick whose life is not in danger, should eat as follows:
• Eat less than a “kezayit” of food (27g or the size of a matchbox), every ten minutes, and drink less than a “revi’it” (the size of a “shot glass”) every ten minutes too.
• All those who are eating do not make kiddush, even this year when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat.

Washing

• On Yom Kippur, we do not wash.
• In the morning, we wash our hands until the knuckles, and so too after the bathroom.
• Where someone is dirty, they must remove the dirt.
• Someone who is eating on Yom Kippur, may wash for bread in the normal way.
• Food may be washed, and so too may a baby.

“Issur Melacha”

All “melachot that are prohibited on Shabbat are prohibited on Yom Kippur.

Anointing

The prohibition of anointing on Yom Kippur means that one may not spread oils on one’s body.

Wearing leather shoes

Leather shoes may not be worn, while those of other materials may, including rubber, cloth, or wood.

Marital relations

A husband and wife may not have marital relations on Yom Kippur. Where the woman’s night to go to the mikvah falls on Yom Kippur, it should be pushed off until after the fast.

Havdalah

• This year where Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat, Havdalah is made in the usual way, apart from one detail, that the flame used is one that was lit on “Erev” Yom Kippur.
• Where Havdalah is delayed, one may drink water before making Havdalah.