Over the no-homework weekend, many students celebrated one of the most important Jewish holidays, Yom Kippur. The holiday centered around seeking forgiveness and atoning for past sins, also referred to as the day of Atonement, is the culmination of a period of reflection and sparks new hope for a fresh start in the upcoming year. People who practice, commit to change their behavior and make the next year better than the last.

The president of the Jewish Student Union, Ethan Wharhaftig, believes that Yom Kippur is “about admitting your mistakes.” Though it can be difficult Ethan feels that it is also the most rewarding part of the journey.

To prepare for Yom Kippur, people will often try to make amends and use their time to ask for forgiveness from their loved ones. The holiday starts before sunset on Friday when they congregate at the temple for services. This also begins their fast, which they will continue until the following evening.

Prayer services continued throughout the day on Saturday and eventually ended with the breaking of the fast that night. Oftentimes people will break the fast with friends and family to further reflect on the past year. 

Throughout the Jewish community, many people celebrate the holiday in different ways. When asked, Troy Leibovici, the vice president of the Jewish Student Union, looked forward to “enjoying a variety of different foods with friends and family to break the fast.” Though there are many different aspects Troy loves about Yom Kippur, he feels that it allows him to “form a deeper connection” with those who are close to him. On top of celebrating the breaking of the fast, Troy also uses the time to “reflect on the year.” He thinks about how he can “improve himself for the next year.”

This is a common practice as self-reflection is often the best way to improve. This self-improvement allows students to further their connection to not only their beliefs but also their family. Though the holiday is celebrated differently in every household, the most important part is forming deeper connections with not only one’s family but also the improvement of oneself.

Yom Kippur can be a somber holiday for Jewish people, so it is very important to respect people’s boundaries and their privacy. Gmar chatima tova to all who participated in the fast.