Yom Kippur is a solemn and reflective day, so it is not customary to greet those observing with "Happy Yom Kippur". Instead, there are several greetings that are more appropriate:
- "Have an easy fast" is the best greeting to give to someone observing Yom Kippur in English.
- For those who are not fasting but are observing Yom Kippur, you can wish them a "Good Yuntif" or "Yom Tov," which are Yiddish and Hebrew, respectively, for "Have a good holy day".
- A more traditional greeting specific to Yom Kippur is "Gmar hatimah tovah" or "Gmar tov," which roughly translates to "a good seal". This greeting refers to the belief that the book of life, which determines an individuals fate for the coming year, opens on Rosh Hashanah and is sealed at the end of Yom Kippur following the period of repentance.
- "Tzom kal" is Hebrew for "have an easy fast" and is another appropriate greeting.
- "Gmar tov" is another traditional greeting that means "a good end" in English. It is used to wish someone a good year ahead.
It is important to note that Yom Kippur is a solemn day, so it is best to avoid using cheerful greetings like "Happy Yom Kippur".
