When is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur takes place on the 10th day of Tishri, the first month on the Hebrew lunar calendar. On the slightly shorter Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, Yom Kippur has no exact date and fluctuates between September and October.

In Judaism, Yom Kippur is a high holy day that commemorates the moment when God imparted the knowledge of the Ten Commandments to Moses and forgave the Israelites for worshipping a false idol. Known as the Day of Atonement, the holiday precedes a period called the 10 Days of Awe, which is reserved for personal reflection and repentance. When observing Yom Kippur, Jews abstain from working, fast for 25 hours and attend religious services at synagogues.