Yom Kippur 2027: the Day of Atonement
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls on the tenth day of Tishrei and closes the Ten Days of Repentance that began on Rosh Hashanah. It is the most solemn day of the Jewish year: a fast of about twenty-five hours, from sunset until nightfall the next day, much of it spent in synagogue. Even many people who rarely observe make a point of marking it. Here are the dates of Yom Kippur, what it means, how the day unfolds and the meals on either side of it.
When is Yom Kippur in 2027?
2027
From the evening of Sunday 10 October until nightfall on Monday, 11 October 2027
in 337 days
2028
From the evening of Friday 29 September until nightfall on Saturday, 30 September 2028
Every holiday begins at sunset the evening before and ends at nightfall; dates shown are those observed outside Israel, with Israel’s dates noted where they differ.
What Yom Kippur means
Yom Kippur is a day of forgiveness and reconciliation. Tradition teaches that it atones for wrongs between a person and God, but that wrongs done to others first require going to that person and apologising. That is why, in the days beforehand, many people take time to call someone, settle a quarrel or simply ask for forgiveness. The fast is not a punishment: by setting aside the body’s needs, it frees the whole day for reflection and prayer. Many wear white, a sign of purity and renewal. The fast closes a season of reflection that began a month earlier, during Elul. By the end, the overwhelming feeling is one of a fresh start, a page turned.
How Yom Kippur unfolds
On the eve, a final meal is eaten before the fast, then festival candles are lit. The evening opens with Kol Nidre, a solemn prayer sung to a famous melody in a synagogue that is often full to the doors. During the fast, people refrain from eating and drinking, and traditionally also from wearing leather shoes, using perfume and marital relations; children, the sick and pregnant women are among those exempted. The day is shaped by services and a communal confession recited in the plural. It ends with Neilah, the “closing of the gates” prayer, and one long blast of the shofar that marks the end of the fast. People then wish each other “Shanah Tovah” and head home to break the fast.
Before and after the fast
The meal before the fast is usually generous but plain, with little salt or spice to limit thirst. Ashkenazi families often serve chicken soup with kreplach, small filled dumplings. In Sephardic homes, the meal often centres on chicken and mild vegetables. To break the fast, many start with a hot or sweet drink and a slice of cake, followed by a lighter meal: bagels, smoked fish or herring in Ashkenazi homes; cakes, pastries and sometimes soup in Sephardic ones.
Yom Kippur as a couple
Yom Kippur is a personal day, and everyone observes it in their own way: some fast and spend the day in synagogue, others mark it more quietly. For a couple, it is worth talking about beforehand, without judgement, to understand where and how each of you wants to spend it. The break-fast meal, on the other hand, is often a warm reunion with family or friends. And the act of seeking forgiveness before Yom Kippur means something between two people too.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Yom Kippur fast?
The fast lasts about twenty-five hours, from sunset on the eve until nightfall the following day. Yom Kippur is a single day, both in Israel and in the diaspora.
What do you say on Yom Kippur?
Beforehand, people often wish each other “G’mar Chatimah Tovah”, to be sealed for a good year, or an easy fast. At the end, after the shofar, the greeting is “Shanah Tovah”.
Who is exempt from fasting?
Young children do not fast, and people whose health requires it, including the sick and, depending on the case, pregnant or breastfeeding women, are or may be exempt. When in doubt, ask both a doctor and a rabbi.
What does Kol Nidre mean?
Kol Nidre, “all vows”, is the declaration that opens the evening service of Yom Kippur. It annuls personal vows that could not be kept. Its ancient melody is one of the most moving moments of the year.
Turning a new page
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