Ten Days of Repentance

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(Hebrew: עשרת ימי תשובה/ Spelling: Aseret Yemei Teshuva, Aseres Yemay Teshuvah / Other Names: / Definition: Period of ten days on the Jewish calendar beginning on Rosh Hashana lasting until after Yom Kippor dedicated to self improvement and repentance.)

Aseret Yemei Teshuva is the name given to the Ten Days of Repentance at the start of the new Jewish calendar year. Starting with the first day of Rosh Hashanah the Aseret Yemei Teshuva last until after Yom Kippor. These ten days are a time for self analysis, repentance and preparation for the final judgment by Hashem on Yom Kippor.


Contents

Asking Friends for Forgiveness

Unlike other transgressions in the Torah, sins between one man and another are not forgiven on Yom Kippor until an apology is attained from the offended individual. During the Aseret Yemei Teshuva many people take the opportunity to ask friends, neighbors and associates to forgive any wrongdoings they have committed against them. In accordance with Judaism, individuals are asked to be forgiving when offered an apology and not to continue holding a grudge.

Kapparot

It is customary to do Kapparos during the Aseres Yemay Teshuvah, preferably on Erev Yom Kippor. It is the custom of some to preform the Kapparot with a live chicken or fish, while others preform the ritual using money. After the ritual, the slaughtered chicken or money is given to poor people.

Erev Yom Kippor

It is a great Mitzvah to eat and drink on Erev Yom Kippor. A number of customs and rituals are preformed on Erev Yom Kipor in preparation for the holy day.

Eating and Drinking

So great is the Mitzvah of eating and drinking on Erev Yom Kippor that when a person does so it is considered as if he fasted two days, Yom Kippor and the previous day. Eating and drinking is a way of showing our happiness at Hashem's mercy for giving us an opportunity to attain forgiveness each year. It also serves as a preparation for the physical fasting, to make the fast easier and reduce the risks of having to violate the fast by eating. It also shows that Judaism is not a religion based on self torment.

Although one is supposed to increase his intake of food and drink on Yom Kippor he must refrain from eating things that increase seed and could cause Keri.

Tzedaka

It is customary to give a lot of charity on Erev Yom Kippor and to settle all outstanding debts, especially to charitable causes.

Seudah Mafseket

A large meal called Seudah Mafseket is eaten on Erev Yom Kippor. One should eat the meal after praying Mincha, which contains the vidoy prayer. This way if he chokes and dies during the last meal before Yom Kippor, at least he first recited the Vidoy. One must end the Seudah Mafseket before candle lighting.

Birchas Habonim

Many people have the custom to bless their children right before heading out for the Yom Kippor services. A father places his hands on the head of his child an recites the traditional Birchas Kohanim. He then adds in his own words any addition blessings he wishes to bestow upon his child.

Yom Kippor

Many people have a custom to wear white on Yom Kippor as a sign of purity and forgiveness. It is best not to wear any gold items to avoid reawakening a remembrance of the Sin of the Golden Calf.

Yom Kippor Services

Yom Kipor services are the longest in the entire year, most of the day is spent praying in Synagogue.

Tefillah Zakah

Tefillah Zakah means a prayer of purity. It is a few pages long and is recited right before the Kol Nidray prayer on Yom Kippor night. In Tefillah Zakah a person confesses for all the sins he has committed. A strong emphasis is placed on sexual sins, especially the sever sin of spilling seed.

Kol Nidre

Kol Nidre should be recited before sunset at the start of the prayers on Yom Kippor night. During the Kol Nidre prayer a Torah scroll is removed from the Arc and is walked around the congregation. Kissing the Torah is a Tikkun for any improper kissing done. At the start of the Kol Nidre prayes, the Chazen requests permission from the heavenly court to allow the prayers services to take place even though the Minyon is made up of transgressors. After this is recited three times a prayer composed to absolve any vows made during the upcoming year is recited three times, with each proceeding time in a louder voice.

 
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