Fasting on Yom Kippur is commanded by the Torah as a way to "afflict the soul" for atonement and repentance. It is a spiritual practice meant to shift focus from physical needs to the soul, enabling intense self-reflection, prayer, and reconciliation with God and others. The fast symbolizes sacrifice, discipline, and purification, echoing the hardships endured by Jewish ancestors and the ancient Temple sacrifices that fasting replaces. Abstaining from food and drink for 25 hours helps believers concentrate on their spiritual needs, seek forgiveness, and renew their moral and ethical commitments while embodying humility and self-control like angels.
Spiritual and Moral Significance
- Fasting is seen as a sacrifice that honors Jewish tradition and ancestors who valued faith even in adversity.
- It enables a day dedicated to the soul, disconnected from bodily demands, fostering greater connection with God.
- It demonstrates willingness to control personal desires as part of genuine repentance and ethical improvement.
Torah Command
- Leviticus instructs Jews to "afflict their souls" on Yom Kippur—understood as fasting from all food and drink, symbolizing self-denial and holiness.
- The fast replaces earlier animal sacrifices, serving as a form of atonement acceptable without the Temple.
Practical Observance
- The fast lasts about 25 hours, beginning before sunset on Yom Kippur eve.
- Besides abstaining from food and drink, traditional observance also includes refraining from work, bathing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations to maintain spiritual focus.
In summary, fasting on Yom Kippur is a foundational ritual for Jewish atonement, repentance, and spiritual renewal, transforming physical discipline into a path for inner awakening and ethical growth.
