Yom Kippur, Holiest Day Of Jewish Year, Begins
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, began at sundown Tuesday, ending 10 days of reflection and repentance that began with Rosh Hashanah.
Observant Jews throughout the Tri-State Area and around the world began a fast and attended synagogue to pray and repent for their sins of the past year.
Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said Yom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, and for many, the most difficult.
Yom Kippur Begins At Sundown
"The minute you are commanded to fast you become hungry," Potasnik told WCBS 880's Marla Diamond. "There are days you can go and not eat and it doesn't bother you. The minute I tell you you're not eating for the next 25, 26 hours, now I'm hungry."
The 25-hour fast will be broken by the sound of the shofar, an instrument made of a ram's horn.
In the Jewish tradition, at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, which is an hour past sundown Wednesday, each person's fate for the coming year is sealed.
"We ask for forgiveness and recommit ourselves to our higher values," Rabbi David Schuck of Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle told CBS2's Scott Rapoport. "We hope and pray that we have another 365 days to live and can use that time to make the world a better place."
At Bagels and Deli in New Rochelle, Rapoport found lines of Jews prepping for the meal eaten when Yom Kippur ends, and sharing their thoughts on the holiday.
When asked what she was thinking about and praying for, Valerie Rudolph of White Plains said, "Mostly my children and grandchildren, hoping they'll have a good year."
"My wish is for the world to be joyous," another person added.
In a message to those observing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend warm wishes for a meaningful day of prayer and contemplation, and an easy fast to those observing. Gmar Chatima Tova."
