Erev Yom Kippur - the day before Yom Kippur (this year, Thursday night and Friday day)

Cartoon from http://shabot6000.com/archive.php?id=79

Here are some laws and customs of Erev Yom Kippur. Thanks to those at the minyan this morning for their suggestions and questions. More details are also here:

• Erev Yom Kippur is a quasi Yom Tov. The reason for this is that Yom Kippur has a 'festive' element. This is expressed by the relief that we should feel that G-d provides us with the chance to start a new year afresh, that forgiveness exists.

It is also the time to mend fences with other people, but this requires us to make the effort to reach out to other people. Yom Kippur does not wipe that slate clean with regards to other people.

Since we do not express the 'festive' aspect of Yom Kippur by eating, we should instead eat well on Erev Yom Kippur and bear this in mind as well as the necessity to prepare ourselves for the fast. Eating well on Erev Yom Kippur is actually part of the Torah's instructions for observing Yom Kippur.

There is no Kiddush at the pre-Yom Kippur meal. It is good to eat bread, but you should eat foods you enjoy and will help you to fast well.

• The fast is there to concentrate our minds and to realise that physical needs are not always paramount.
• Some people have the custom of doing Kaparot/Kaporos. Please email me if you would like more information.
• Many people have the custom to wear white on Yom Kippur. This is one of the reasons that the Chazan wears a Kitel (a special white gown). Some individuals choose to as well.
• Men - remember to bring your Talit/Talis with you before Kol Nidrei and to put it on before the Kol Nidrei starts. Some also say the Tefila Zaka prayer which is found in most Machzorim, before Kol Nidrei.
• Erev Yom Kippur is also an auspicious time to give charity. If we would like a good year, we need to contribute towards that ourselves.


• Mincha today is at 2.30pm in the Shul. The reason for the early Mincha is that we say the 'Vidui' prayers prior Yom Kippur (confessional prayers - see the relevant piece in this great article for more on Vidui and other seasonal stuff), in case anything happens before Yom Kippur. If you miss this, there will be Mincha at approximately 6.30pm at both the Shul and the hotel. Even though this is immediately prior to Yom Kippur's start, Vidui is still said even though the reason for saying it on Erev Yom Kippur would not seem to apply right before Yom Kippur starts. This is a question which the Poskim deal with.
• Some men have the practise to go to the Mikva, as noted in a previous post (see Customs and Laws of Yom Kippur (1) below). If you cannot get to the Mikva but would like to perform this practise, email me. The nearest Mikva is the Central London Mikva This Mikva is also the local Mikva for married women.
• Candles are lit for Yom Kippur. These should be lit before you leave to come to Shul. At the time of lighting, stipulate mentally that you are not ushering in Yom Kippur by lighting the candles. Rather, you are lighting the candles to provide light on Yom Kippur itself. Using this procedure means that you can drive to Shul/hotel and bring items with you. It is important to get to the Shul/hotel in good time (Yom Kippur starts at 6.47pm).

This year, when lighting candles, remember to include the extra phrase in the beracha (blessing) for Shabbat. Also say the Sh'hecheyanu prayer. These berachot (blessings) should be in your Machzor. Otherwise, look at Artscroll Siddur page 296 or Green Siddur page 644). Some parents have the custom to give the Friday night blessing to children at this point. Candles should not be lit after 6.47pm.

• Before lighting the Yom Kippur candles, light a 24 hour candle which you will use after Yom Kippur to say Havdala, if you did not hear Havdala in Shul.

If you are saying Yizkor for somebody on Yom Kippur, light a yartzeit candle for them before lighting Yom Kippur candles. One candle is enough even if you are saying Yizkor for more than one person. After Yom Kippur, if you do not hear Havdala in shul at the end of Yom Kippur, use this light to kindle the Havdla candle.

The end of Yom Kippur is also a quasi Yom Tov, as we rejoice at having been through the holiness and happiness of Yom Kippur (as previously explained), so enjoy that too.