Yom Kippur Themes and Theology

Why Yom Kippur Is a Joyous Holiday

Jewish texts portray Yom Kippur as a serious day of repentance and reflection — but not one of sadness.

The Redemptive Strangeness of Yom Kippur

For the ancient Israelites, the Yom Kippur rituals signified a world in which God brought moral order out of chaos.

Yom Kippur Theology and Themes

The 10 Days of Repentance, are the window of opportunity for the human dynamic to influence the Divine decrees. On Yom Kippur we make our final plea to God.

Judaism and Repentance

Jewish thinking tries to strike a balance between responsibility and forgiveness.

The Double Purpose of Yom Kippur

We must be cleansed from the polluting effects of sin.

Spiraling Towards Repentance

There are five factors in teshuvah (repentance), each of which can be a starting point for the entire process.

Last Chance

Yom Kippur culminates the process of repentance begun before Rosh Hashanah.