5. Yom Kippur

Your spaceship has been landed and towed into the hangar for repair. But how do you fix a soul?

Screwdrivers won't help. What you need is glue.

You see, fixing a soul is much like fixing a relationship: You need a bond so powerful that all flaws are overlooked and no one has any desire but the good of the other. That's why Yom Kippur is called The Day of At-One-ment: The day that we are at one with our Source Above.

According to how you forgive others, that's how G‑d forgives youFeasting

Eat two good meals the day before Yom Kippur—it's a mitzvah. In fact, feast today and fast tomorrow and it's counted as though you fasted for two days.

Take lots of fluids and avoid heavy foods. Avoid nuts and other edibles that stick in your teeth.

If you have children, place your hands on each child's head, one at a time, and give each one a blessing.

Forgiving

If someone feels you've wronged him or her, try to make up before the fast. At the same time, forgive the misdemeanors of others against you. According to how you forgive others, that's how G‑d forgives you.

Click here for more about pre-Yom Kippur preparations.

Kol Nidre

As the sun kisses the horizon, the cantor's voice pierces our souls with the Kol Nidre. But the most vital prayer—repeated eight times over the 25 hours—is the Vidui. That is when we accept responsibility for every possible human mess-up we may have made, ripping out their residue from within us. It's not easy to remember all of them, so the prayer book provides a list in alphabetical order.

With each Vidui, the soul is freed and climbs higher and higher, until the ultimate high with Neila, which is recited as Yom Kippur is about to come to an end, as the Gates of Heaven begin to close.

On Yom Kippur, after the Torah reading, Yizkor is recited to remember the souls of the departed. We pledge charity on behalf of parents and beloved ones now in the "world of truth." However, the charity cannot be given on Yom Kippur itself, since we do not handle money or write checks on this day.

At the conclusion of Neila, the entire congregation cries out the Shema Yisrael and the shofar is sounded to usher the holiness of the day back to its place—and to announce the incoming holiday (more on that soon).

Click here for more about the Yom Kippur prayer services.
Click here to find a friendly Yom Kippur services in your area.

How could the highest day of the year possibly be sad?Fasting

Some think Yom Kippur is a sad day. But how could the highest day of the year possibly be sad?

It's just that dealing with physical needs on this day would be the biggest downer, unplugging that connection and hurling us back into the mundane world.

That's also why we dress in white on this day, to remind us that today we are as high as the angels, who need neither food nor drink. And yet higher.

Finishing

As soon as Yom Kippur is over, we return home for a joyous feast. We wish each other "Good Yom Tov!" According to the Baal Shem Tov, we are now in the purest day of the year, since all the souls are clean and shiny like new.

Click here for more about Yom Kippur.