Yom Kippur 2013

Yom Kippur 2013: 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Jewish High Holiday

Considered the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur is observed from sundown on Sept. 13 to nightfall on Sept. 14, 2013. YouTube

Considered the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur is the day when Jews reflect on the past year and atone for their sins.

The Day of Atonement begins at sundown on Sept. 13 and continues until nightfall on Sept. 14, or 10 Tishrei 5774, according to the Hebrew calendar. Synagogue attendance peaks during the High Holiday, when Jews seek forgiveness for sins committed between man and God and make a pledge to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the new year.

For those who are unfamiliar with the important Jewish holiday, below are five answers to common questions surrounding Yom Kippur:

1. What does Yom Kippur mean?

Yom Kippur literally means “Day of Atonement.” It is a day devoted to “afflict the soul,” repent and reflect on sins committed in the past year. It marks the end of the 10 Days of Awe that began on the Jewish New Year or Rosh Hashanah -- a period of serious introspection.

Yom Kippur is outlined in Leviticus 16:30, which reads, “For on this day He will forgive you, to purify you, that you be cleansed from all your sins before God.”

2. What do you say?

A customary greeting on Yom Kippur includes wishing individuals an “easy fast,”Gmar Chatimah Tovah (may you be sealed in the Book of Life for a good year) and L’Shanah Tovah (for a good year) in Hebrew.

3. Why fast?

Fasting is one of three essential components of Yom Kippur. The practice comes from Leviticus 23:27 that describes "afflicting your souls," which is interpreted as abstaining from the body’s main needs, including food and drink. It is seen as an “an expression of pure faith in God.”

Jews fast for 25 hours beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. Food and drink are prohibited, but children under 13 and people who are ill or pregnant do not have to fast.

4. Are there other customs?

Jews mark the sacred and solemn day in multiple ways. The day is characterized by fasting, continuous prayer and repentance. The Talmud, a collection of rabbinical law, also outlines other restrictions including refraining from washing and bathing, putting on makeup or perfume, wearing leather shoes and having sex. Many wear white as a sign of purity and canvas shoes during the day.

5. What happens in synagogue?

Spending time in synagogue is one of the most important parts of Yom Kippur. The prayer book used on Yom Kippur, called a mahzor, means “cycle" since the calendar repeats its cycle each year.

In Orthodox synagogues, services begin around 8 or 9 a.m. and continue until about 3 p.m. Congregants usually go home and return to synagogue at 5 or 6 p.m. for the afternoon and evening services, which continue until sunset. Over the course of the day, two forms of confession are performed. The prayers, Ashamnu and Al Chet, involve asking for forgiveness from God. The former is a shorter, more general list of sins while the latter is a longer confession with a more specific list.

There are five prayer services over the course of the day:

Kol Nidrei, also known as “All Vows,” takes place on the eve of Yom Kippur. The prayer involves asking God to annul all personal vows made in the next year. While this only applies to religious vows made between man and God, over the centuries anti-Semitics saw the prayer as reason to believe Jews were untrustworthy.

While it is seen as a prayer, Kol Nidrei is technically a legal formulation designed to release individuals from promises between man and God. It is recited three times and it is the only time in the entire Jewish calendarwhen a tallit or prayer shawl is worn at night.

The morning prayer, Shacharit, includes a reading from Leviticus followed by Yizkor -- a memorial service for those who have lost one or both parents.

Musaf, which is held immediately after the morning service, includes a detailed account of the Yom Kippur Temple service performed in ancient times. The priests, or kohanim, who are direct descendants of Aaron from the Hebrew Bible, perform a three-fold blessing on the Jewish people. It is customary for men to cover their eyes with their prayer shawls and for women to gaze into their prayer books, since one must not look directly at the kohanim.

Minchah, or the afternoon service, includes reading the entire Book of Jonah, which emphasizes the importance of repentance and prayer.

Neilah, or the “closing of the gates,” is the final service of Yom Kippur. Symbolically, it represents the closing of the gates of heaven and God’s readiness to hear the prayers of the Jewish people. During the service the doors of the Ark containing the Torah, or the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, are opened. Neilah ends with the sounding of the shofar, or ram’s horn. The blast signals the end of the Day of Atonement and marks the time when congregants head home for the highly anticipated “breaking of the fast” meal.

Michigan football

Toussaint TD, late stop help Michigan avoid Akron stunner

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- College football's winningest program might have just had its worst win.

Fitzgerald Toussaint scored a go-ahead 2-yard touchdown with 2:49 left and No. 11 Michigan made a desperately needed stop on the final play to hold on for a 28-24 victory over Akron on Saturday.

Michigan (3-0) avoided getting upset at home -- as it did against Appalachian State and Toledo -- by a Mid-American Conference team with three straight one-win seasons that hasn't won a road game in nearly five years and was expected to lose by more than five touchdowns.

Barely.

"This is embarrassing for the University of Michigan football team," offensive tackle Taylor Lewan said.

The Wolverines trailed twice in the second half -- including with 4:10 remaining when Kyle Pohl threw a 1-yard TD -- and allowed the Zips (1-2) to get to the Michigan 4 on the final drive of the game.

On the third straight snap inside the Michigan 5, Pohl was hurried and hit by Brennen Beyer and that led to an incomplete pass in the end zone as time expired.

"We almost lost to Akron, no disrespect to Akron," Devin Gardner said.

Gardner had a lot to do with that.

He had a career-high three interceptions and fumbled.

"I don't care if we are playing Saline High School or the Super Bowl champs, you can't turn the ball over," Michigan coach Brady Hoke said.

Akron was very close to going ahead in the final minute, but wide receiver Jerrod Dillard couldn't come down with a high pass that went through his hands in the end zone, and receiver L.T. Smith was stopped at the 2 by two defenders.

"I've been fortunate to have some big wins in my career, but that would've been the biggest," said Akron coach Terry Bowden, who went 11-0 two decades ago at Auburn. "I'm sorry for our players. They worked so hard and been through so much, but I told them they had the chance to play the game of a lifetime and they did and they played the game of a lifetime.

"I'm sure down the road in their lives they'll look back and cherish that more than the misery they're in right now."

Michigan won its 17th straight at home for the longest streak among BCS-conference teams and its best since winning the same number in a row from 1976-78.

Akron has lost 28 straight road games, the longest skid for visitors in the top tier of college football since Kansas State dropped 30 in a row from Nov. 9, 1985, to Nov. 2, 1991, according to STATS LLC.

The Zips, though, thought this would be their day.

"I knew we could beat them," Pohl said.

The Wolverines said the right things about respecting and focusing on Akron after beating rival Notre Dame in front of an NCAA-record crowd last weekend, but they didn't look like they prepared very well and failed to make adjustments during the game.

And, Gardner led the way.

He ran for a 36-yard score and threw a 33-yard pass to Jehu Chesson in the third quarter to put Michigan up 21-10, but was 16 of 30 for 248 yards with a lot of mistakes.

Gardner had turnovers on three straight drives late in the first half and the last two set up Akron for field goal attempts -- both of which were missed -- as Michigan had a tenuous 7-3 lead at halftime.

The fourth-year quarterback, who accounted for five TDs in the 41-30 win over the Fighting Irish, threw his third interception in the fourth quarter and it was returned 27 yards by linebacker Justin March to let the Zips pull within four points.

"I made a lot of bad decisions, probably my worst game ever," Gardner said.

After Michigan went three and out, Pohl drove the Zips to the Michigan 2 and they came away with nothing because he was picked off in the end zone by Jarrod Wilson.

The Wolverines could only get one first down on their next drive, then Pohl gave Akron a 24-21 lead on a pass to Tyrell Goodman.

The Big House, which was eerily quiet for much of the afternoon when fans weren't booing, erupted in a collective cheer when Toussaint's plunge put Michigan up 28-24.

It got quiet again as Akron picked apart Michigan's defense, which failed to pressure Pohl very often, before the maize-and-blue clad followers were able to exhale when the clocks had zeroes and the football was on the turf.

"Yeah, we won the game," Lewan said, sounding and looking furious in a postgame news conference. "We're 3-0, that's great. It was embarrassing."