09/18/2026
✡️ Jews around the world will observe Yom Kippur starting Sunday at sundown. It's the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar, dedicated to atonement, repentance, and prayer.
Observance includes rituals like fasting, attending services, not bathing, and wearing white. But specific practices vary from person to person, and even for the same person over the course of their life, depending on level of devoutness, family traditions, community practices, and more.
✨ This is how "lived religion" works. It acknowledges that people from the same religious tradition, or even the same religious community, often practice in different ways.
If you've got Jewish friends or family members and want to learn more about their traditions, here are 5 things you can ask them about Yom Kippur:
🗓️ Will you be observing Yom Kippur this year? It IS a major Jewish holyday, but many Jews self-identify as "secular" or "non-practicing." There are also many other reasons why someone might observe differently from year to year.
🕯️ Do you attend any services for Yom Kippur? There is a service, called Kol Nidre, to begin Yom Kippur (held Sunday evening this year). There are also services throughout the next day (Monday this year). Jews might attend one, or more, or none at all.
🍽️ Will you be fasting for Yom Kippur? The Yom Kippur fast runs from sundown Sunday to nightfall Monday, a 25+ hour fast with no food or drink. If someone you know is fasting, you can say, ""May you have an easy fast.""
👕 Do you wear anything special for Yom Kippur? Some people wear all white when they visit the synagogue. Some don't observe in that way. Just see what they say.
💭 Did your family do anything for Yom Kippur when you were growing up? It's always interesting to hear how someone's religious practice might have changed over time, so this is my favorite question!
Learn more about Jewish traditions and other world religions at worldreligions4kids.com
