At sundown, Yom Kippur begins, with its own story:
“This is the message of Yom Kippur: we can return, there is a way home. No wonder the rabbis claimed there was no more joyful day on the calendar than Yom Kippur.
It is a time for a change in direction on a stairway: “Between heaven and the human heart, God has offered us a ladder.”
And an eloquent message from the President:
For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the LORD your God. – Leviticus 23:28
On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, the faithful leave behind their daily concerns and gather together to draw near to God. This day is a time when Jews everywhere reflect on their lives, seek forgiveness, and find solace in God’s merciful nature. The Shofar’s call signals our recommitment to our Creator and to each other.