Yom Kippur: he holiest day of the year for the Jewish religion began Wednesday night.

The Day of Atonement, also known as Yom Kippur, is where Jewish people atone for their sins.

We spoke with Temple Beth Israel about the holy day, as Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar explains the tradition of fasting during Yom Kippur.

“We don’t eat and we don’t drink, and we act as if we are dead. It’s supposed to remind us that life is finite, life is fleeting and it reminds us to have a deeper connection with ourselves and have a deeper connection with God,” said Rabbi Bahar.

Yom Kippur ends Thursday night, where the fast is broken with a meal.

Israel shuts down for Yom Kippur

For 25 hours starting at nightfall on Wednesday, Israel will effectively shut down in observance of Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews.

Borders will be closed, radio and television broadcasts suspended, public and commercial activities halted and the roads are expected to be virtually empty.

Long lines could be seen Wednesday outside Covid-19 testing stations, which are due to close their doors at sundown, while hundreds of people gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City for pre-Yom Kippur prayers.

Unlike last year, when pandemic restrictions limited participation in religious ceremonies, Israelis are free to head to synagogues even though Covid-19 infections are again on the rise.

Amid heightened tensions following last week’s escape of six Palestinian militants from a high-security prison, 2,000 police have been deployed across Jerusalem and checkpoints set up around the Old City.

Four of the fugitives were apprehended, but clashes continued between security forces and Palestinians protesting in support of the escapees. EFE pd/ta/dr