Yom Kippur(יוֹם כִּפּוּר) in 🇺🇸 United States

Yom Kippur in the United States is the most widely observed Jewish holiday, with even many non-practicing Jews choosing to fast and attend services. Synagogues of all denominations, from Orthodox to Reform, see their highest attendance of the year. Many congregations hold services in rented auditoriums, hotels, and convention centers to accommodate the overflow.

The observance begins on Kol Nidre evening, when the ancient Aramaic prayer is chanted in a melody that is among the most emotionally powerful in Jewish liturgy. The 25-hour fast that follows is observed by the majority of American Jews. The day is spent in prayer, reflection, and repentance, with services lasting most of the day and culminating in the Ne'ilah closing prayer and the sounding of the shofar.

American cultural and public life acknowledges Yom Kippur in significant ways. Schools in areas with large Jewish populations are often closed or have reduced attendance. Major League Baseball has a long history of Jewish players sitting out games on Yom Kippur, most famously Sandy Koufax's decision to miss Game 1 of the 1965 World Series. Wall Street trading continues but with noticeably reduced volume.

The break-fast meal is a cherished tradition, typically featuring bagels, lox, cream cheese, whitefish salad, kugel, and other Ashkenazi staples. In Sephardic households, the break-fast may include bourekas, harira soup, and date-filled cookies. Families and friends gather for this meal, which has a joyful, relieved atmosphere after the day's solemnity.

The holiest day in Judaism, observed as a 25-hour fast of prayer and repentance for sins, culminating the ten Days of Awe after Rosh Hashanah with synagogue services and the shofar's final blast.