Yom Kippur, the most important holiday of the Jewish calendar, will be celebrated by adherents of Judaism on Friday evening. It is believed that on this day, God decides what everyone’s fate will be in the coming year, hence the second name of the holiday – the Day of Judgment.
On Yom Kippur, one must observe a strict fast – refrain from eating and drinking water, refrain from washing, intimacy, lubricating the body with any means, and wearing leather shoes.
Unlike other fasts, Yom Kippur is observed even by pregnant and breastfeeding women, if their health is not in danger. In the event of a life-threatening situation, a person is exempted from fasting, but if his or her health allows it, he or she spends the day in prayer and repentance, just like all those who fast. Girls from the age of 12 and boys from the age of 13 also observe fasting, and younger children try to limit their sweets on this day. In addition, it is customary to give money to charity on the eve of the holiday.
