From sundown on Oct. 11 to sun down on Oct. 12, Jews fasted, attended service and prayed in observance of Yom Kippur. Considered the most solemn Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur is a Day of Atonement where Jews reflect on their sins and pray to facilitate forgiveness and resolution.

Services called Kol Nidre are held on the first night of the holiday, this year on Oct. 11. Yom Kippur begins with this night service, where the congregation chants a prayer that translates to “all vows” or “all promises” as a way to reflect on the sacred day ahead for the community. The following day of fasting includes intensive prayer and communal worship as a means of spiritual purification. This is especially important at this point in the year as Yom Kippur takes place 10 days after Rosh Hashanah, the start of the Jewish new year.

Reflecting on the significance of the holiday, WHS junior Melissa Weinberg said, “I’m starting the year off refreshed and [with] no bad things connected to me. It just helps me have a better start to the new year.”

While Yom Kippur is rooted in ancient traditions, its observance resonates deeply with the Jewish community this year as it follows the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks. With Yom Kippur being the holiest Jewish holiday, emotions were cycling throughout the community.

Oct. 7 was the devastating day that Hamas entered the borders of Israel and attacked the nation. With over 1,200 men, women and children killed, this makes the event the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. The significant loss of life from this day left the Israeli people with tragic consequences and suffering from the destruction to their nation.

Advisor of the Jewish Cultural and Development Club Kimberly Leegan said that at their first meeting, the week following the holiday, the club gave “students who have just celebrated their high holy days opportunities to talk about them and what they did, but also to recognize the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks.”

Not only does this day directly affect the Israeli people, but it also affects the Jewish community worldwide. Leegan said, “It makes the specific markings of those Holy Days that much more important to not only celebrate their culture and identity, but also to find comfort and support within the community.”

With the observance of Yom Kippur signifying the importance of community, the holiday gave the Jewish community an opportunity to also express their feelings about Oct. 7. Synagogues across the globe began to draw more people together for a shared purpose.

The communal experience of Yom Kippur reignites a sense of belonging and purpose for many Jews. Weinberg said, “It’s been a resource that I can rely on as an outlet to know that I have people who are going through the same things as me, who have lost similar things to me and who have similar emotions connected to it.”

Although a stronger connection and comfort grew within the Jewish community during this difficult time, the community also notes that it’s important to ensure that the tragedies of Oct. 7 will never be forgotten and more importantly, never repeated.