1. There is a mitzva to eat a festive meal before Yom Kippur starts.

2. There is a special custom to bless one’s children on the eve of Yom Kippur before the fast begins.

3. Yom Kippur begins with one of the most famous Jewish prayers – Kol Nidrei. Except it isn’t a prayer at all; rather it is a declaration to annul our vows.

4. Fasting is not the only prohibition on Yom Kippur. There are five prohibitions in total:

eating and drinking

washing/bathing

anointing

marital relations

wearing leather shoes

5. If it is dangerous for a person to fast, then not only can they eat, but they must eat, to preserve their health (individuals must ask rabbinic and medical experts before making this decision).

6. Many have the custom to wear white on Yom Kippur. This reminds us of the shrouds we will one day be buried in, calling to mind the fragility of all human life, and it also reminds us that today we aspire to be pure like the angels.

7. Yom Kippur is the only day of the year when there are five prayer services:

Maariv (evening service)

Shaḥarit (morning service)

Musaf (additional service)

Minḥa (afternoon service)

Ne’ila (“closing” service)

8. For the haftara of the Minḥa service, we read the story of the prophet Yona who eventually delivers God’s warning to the people of Nineveh and convinces them to repent.

9. Yom Kippur ends with the blowing of the shofar to remind us of the departing of God’s presence from Mount Sinai after the Giving of the Torah, which was also accompanied by the blowing of the shofar.

10. There is a widespread custom after the festive meal at the conclusion of Yom Kippur to immediately engage in the next mitzva to come – the building of the sukka.