Yom Kippur Menus and Recipes

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, literally "Day of Atonement," is the holiest day of the Jewish year.

Yom Kippur is observed eight days after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It is believed that on Rosh Hashanah God inscribes all of our names in the "books", and on Yom Kippur the judgment entered in these books is sealed. The days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Ten Days of Repentance or the Days of Awe. Yom Kippur is, essentially, our last chance to demonstrate repentance so God will seal us in the Book of Life in the upcoming year.

As repentance is the theme of the day, Yom Kippur is a day of "self-denial" (Lev. 23-27) with the goal of cleansing ourselves of sins. Prayer services on Yom Kippur are lengthy and solemn, and a 25-hour fast is kept.

Yom Kippur Fast

How to Prepare for a Healthy Fast
While hunger pains and weakness are an expected consequence of fasting, one need not dehydrate, faint or get sick while fasting. There are several ways to prepare oneself physically for a healthy fast.

Yom Kippur Pre-Fast Menus and Recipes

Meal of Cessation
Jews traditionally eat a Meal of Cessation - called Seudat Mafseket - before the Yom Kippur fast. My family eats a meat meal for lunch, and then we eat a hi-carb dairy dinner directly before the fast. The meat menu includes low-salt vegetable soup, breaded chicken, potatoes and dessert. The dairy menu includes egg souffle, whole wheat bagels with various spreads and fruit salad.

Yom Kippur Post-Fast Menu and Recipes

Break Fast Meal
At the end of Yom Kippur, Jews traditionally share a joyful Break Fast meal with family and friends. The Yom Kippur Break Fast is generally a festive breakfast menu consisting of foods such as eggs, cheese, bread. This Yom Kippur Break Fast menu and recipes might help you decide what to serve after the fast.