Yom Kippur 2021 fast times, what time Jewish holiday starts today and meaning behind fasting

Yom Kippur, one of the most sacred dates in the Jewish religious calendar, is taking place this week and most Jews will be expected to fast.

But why does the fast last 25 hours, and how is it celebrated. Here’s everything you need to know.

What are the hours of fasting?

This year Yom Kippur begins on Wednesday 15 September and ends on Thursday 16 September.

You must start fasting at 7.01pm on the 15, and stop at 8pm the following day.

The fast lasts for 25 hours because it must start and end at sundown, the extra hour allows for some subjectivity with when nightfall is.

The is also the case in the Jewish faith for Shabbat, the weekly Sabbath day which lasts from sunset on Friday to Sunset on Saturday.

Yom Kippur falls on the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar).

It marks the culmination of the Days of Repentance or Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the world.

Why do Jewish people fast on Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur means means Day of Atonement and it is a day to reflect on the past year and ask God’s forgiveness for any sins you may have committed.

Fasting is seen as a vehicle for reflecting on your sins and it dates back to Biblical times.

“The purpose of fasting is to bring one to repent, and true repentance brings about a change in actions. However, repenting without fasting is not enough,” Jewish educator Aliza Bulow told Aish.com.

Anyone who must eat due to health reasons will not be required to fast. Children under the age of nine are also exempted.

“The same Torah which commands us to fast on Yom Kippur tells us that guarding our health is far more important than fasting on this holy day,” Jewish website Chabad says.

The origins trace back to the story of Moses, after the people of Israel made their exodus from Egypt.

After Moses climbed Mount Sinai, God gave him two tablets containing the Ten Commandments. The first commandment told people that they should not worship anyone other than God.

However, when he descended from the mountain, Moses caught the Israelites worshipping a golden calf and shattered the holy tablets in anger.

The Israelites atoned for their idolatry and God forgave them on on the 10th day of Tishrei, which then became known as Yom Kippur.

How else is Yom Kippur celebrated?

People generally do not work or go to school on Yom Kippur.

Most of the day is spent a the synagogue, where five prayer services are held (instead of the traditional two). These are known as: Maariv, Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha and Neilah.

Maariv includes the recital of a prayer service called Kol Nidre, which takes place on the eve of the holiday.

Yom Kippur concludes with the Neilah service and the blowing of the shofar, an ancient instrument, which marks the conclusion of the fast.

After the service, people usually break the fast and celebrate with a family meal.

It is customary to wear white, as a symbol of purity during the day.

As a way to atone and seek God’s forgiveness, some Jews make donations or volunteer their time to charity in the days leading up to the holiday.