For Jewish people, the fall holiday of Yom Kippur is the most weighty and somber holiday on the calendar. Translating to "day of atonement," it marks the end of Judaism's High Holy Days.
Beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the High Holy Days (or high holidays) are 10 consecutive days dedicated to repentance during the Hebrew month of Tishrei. This usually coincides with September or October in the Gregorian calendar, and it falls a bit later in 2024 than last: This year, Yom Kippur starts on the evening of Friday, October 11, and concludes on the evening of Saturday, October 12.
The Jewish faith dictates that God determines each person's fate for the coming year during Yom Kippur. So, people who observe, spend the holiday period seeking forgiveness and making amends for any wrongdoings over the past year. It's not just a time for solemn self-reflection but also a time to make a firm commitment to personal growth for the year ahead — a pledge to be a better person in the coming year.
Those who observe spend Yom Kippur in synagogue, participating in five prayer services while they fast. The fast lasts 25 hours, starting at sundown the night before Yom Kippur. The holiday ends with more prayers and the blowing of the shofar, a ram's horn used ceremonially. Then, observers break the fast with a hearty meal after sunset.
Yom Kippur's origins date back to the Israelites' journey after their exodus from Egypt. When they reached Mount Sinai, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments tablets. Upon descending, Moses found the people worshiping a golden calf and angrily shattered the tablets. However, after the Israelites repented for their sin of idol worship, God forgave them and provided Moses with a new set of tablets.
Ahead, Edana Appel, Director of Camp and Family Programs at the J Los Angeles (formerly the Westside Jewish Community Center), shares appropriate and traditional greetings to share with anyone who observes the holiday.
What is the best way to greet someone for Yom Kippur?
These greetings are common and always appropriate for the holiday:
- Tzom Kal: This Hebrew greeting translates to "an easy fast." Appel says this greeting has two different meanings. The first meaning is literal, because "fasting is hard, and it would be nice if it was easier," she explains. "The second is that some people believe that if you have been good this past year, your fast should be easy as Yom Kippur is the day for settling the sins you have committed against God."
- Gmar Chatima Tovah: It directly translates to "that you should be sealed for goodness in the end." It relates to the Jewish concept that at the end of the day on Yom Kippur, each person's fate is sealed in the Book of Life "and throughout Yom Kippur, we are striving to be sealed for goodness," Appel says.
- Gmar Tov: This Hebrew greeting translates directly to "a good end" in English. "A good end really means that this coming year will be a good year for you,"Appel explains. "That your fate will be sealed for goodness in the coming year."
Hebrew Yom Kippur greetings
- Shana tova
- Chag sameach
- Tizku leshanim rabot
- Yom tov (or "gut yontiff" in Yiddish)
English Yom Kippur greetings
- Wishing you a good seal
- Have a good holy day
- A good final sealing
- Good day
- Have a meaningful fast
- Have a good year (can be used during the entire season)
Should you say "Happy Yom Kippur?"
While it's appropriate to say "Happy Hanukkah" or even "Happy Rosh Hashanah," the same type of cheerful greeting is not appropriate for this holiday. "Happy Yom Kippur" is not a traditional greeting because this holiday is a time for solemn reflection and atonement, not an occasion for celebration.
“It is important to remember that the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is about asking for forgiveness from the people in your life," Appel says, "whereas Yom Kippur is about each person and their relationship with God.”
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
