YOM KIPPUR: THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

Yom Kippur, the Holiest day in the Jewish calendar, falls on October 1–2, 2025, from sundown to nightfall. This is a Holy day—a time set-apart to stand before God, seeking forgiveness and restitution. The Book of Life underscores the gravity of this day. As Exodus 32:32–33 NLT records, Moses pleaded with God: “ But now, if you will only forgive their sin—but if not, erase my name from the record you have written!” But the Lord replied to Moses, “No, I will erase the name of everyone who has sinned against me.

In Jewish tradition this reflects that on Yom Kippur, God determines who will be inscribed in the Book of Life for the coming year. The day calls for humility, fasting, and heartfelt confession, as the prophet Joel urges: “Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the LORD your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” Joel 2:13 NLT

Yom Kippur is marked by intense prayer, with the Viddui—the communal confession—uniting Jewish communities in vulnerability and repentance before God. Synagogues worldwide resonate with the collective cry for forgiveness, as worshippers examine their hearts, confess sins, and seek restitution. The shofar, a ram’s horn, plays a pivotal role during the High Holy Days. On Yom Kippur, the final tekiah gedolah—a single, prolonged note—heralds the end of the fast, proclaiming victory over sin and a renewed commitment to holiness.

Leviticus 16 outlines the ancient atonement rituals, where the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifices for the nation’s sins. This act foreshadowed the ultimate atonement through the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, whom John the Baptist proclaimed as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NLT. The book of Hebrews further illuminates this powerful revelation: “With His own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Hebrews 9:12 NLT

Yeshua’s sacrifice offers eternal redemption, inviting all to approach God’s throne with confidence: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Our prayer is that this Yom Kippur will be more than a yearly ritual. May Jew and Gentile embrace God’s forgiveness, and experience His redeeming power, grace, mercy, and His enduring love. May our Jewish friends hear and obey God’s calling to return home to Zion—the place of His eternal dwelling as written in Revelation 21:3 NLT: “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his [His] people! He will live with them, and they will be his [His] people. God Himself will be with them.

Adrianne Prosser
Outreach Development Director
OEUSA