Yom Kippur: Difference between revisions

==Erev Yom Kippur==

===Eating on Erev Yom Kippur===

# Preferably one should eat at least one bread meal on Erev Yom Kippur. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 604:3), Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 446, #11) </ref>

# One should only eat light foods so that one shouldn't be stuffed and prideful during prayers of Yom Kippur. <ref>Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 446, #11)</ref>

===Pills to ease the fast===

# It is permissible to take a pill before Yom Kippur which will ease the difficulty of fasting. <ref>Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, English version pg 448, #20)</ref> However, others write that one should refrain from such pills except for a person who will be in great pain, have a headache, or the like from fasting on Yom Kippur.<ref>Yabea Omer 9:54. for more see [http://halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp?HalachaID=2726 Halacha Yomit]</ref>

===Prayers===

# There's is no [[Tachanun]] on Erev Yom Kippur. <ref>S"A 604:2 writes that there is no [[Tachanun]] on Erev Yom Kippur. Kaf HaChaim 604:18 points out that one does say [[Tachanun]] at Mincha before Erev Yom Kippur. </ref>

# Some communities have the custom not to recite mizmor litoda on Erev Yom Kippur. <ref> Rama 51:5 and 604:1, Maharshal 64. </ref> However, this is not the sephardic custom. <ref> Pri Chadash 604, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 604. </ref>

# The custom for sephardim is to recite Avinu Malkeinu in shacharit and mincha of Erev Yom Kippur. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 75. </ref> The custom is also to recite hatarat nedarim immediately following selichot or shacharit on erev yom kippur. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 75. </ref>

===Kaparot===

# There is an old minhag (tradition) among Sephardim and Ashkenazim to do kapparot during aseret yimei teshuva (ten days of repentance) <ref>S"A 605:1 writes that one should prevent the minhag to do Kapparot on Erev Yom Kippur. Mishna Brurah 605:1 explains that the reason for this opinion is that it looks like Darkei Amori (superstitious pagan practice). This is the opinion of the Rashba in his Teshuvot 395 and quoted by Beit Yosef 605 "Yesh mekomot." However, the Rama 605:1 writes that it's an old minhag and one shouldn't stop from keeping the minhag. Mishna Brurah 605:2 explains that the minhag is justified because it's similar to a korban and it's as though the punishment one deserves is taking place on the chicken. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 75) writes that this practice is the minhag of all of klal yisrael and it should not be stopped. Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, chapter 42:1) agrees. The Ben Ish Chai Parashat Vayelech:2, Kaf Hachaim 605:8, and Yechaveh Daat 2:71 all record this minhag as well, despite the opposition cited by the Shulchan Aruch. The Arizal quoted in Magen Avraham 605:1 was a strong supporter of the minhag.  see [http://www.koltorah.org/ravj/kapparot.htm Kol Torah by Rabbi Chaim Jachter] for a more detailed article </ref> and preferably it should be done on Erev Yom Kippur in the morning.  <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that it is an old minhag to do Kapparot on Erev Yom Kippur. Mishna Brurah 605:2 comments that if there's a concern that having everyone do Kapparot on Erev Yom Kippur in the morning won't give the Shochet enough time to do a proper slaughtering on all the chickens one should do Kapparot a day or two earlier because the entire period of Aseret Yamei Teshuva is a time of atonement. Therefore, Nitei Gavriel 10:1 writes that it should be done during Aseret Yomei Teshuva and preferably on Erev Yom Kippur in the morning. </ref> If one didn't do it before Yom Kippur one may do it on Hoshana Rabba. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:7 </ref>

'''What should be used for Kaparot'''

# One should take a male chicken for a male, female chicken for a female, and both a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Some take two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that one should take a male chicken for a male and a female chicken for a female. Rama 605:1 and Kitzur S"A 131:1 write that one should take a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Mishna Brurah 605:3 writes that some have the practice of taking two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. Nitei Gavriel 10:2 agrees. The Magen Avraham 605:3 explains the Rama's minhag by saying that even if the mother and the fetus are considered two bodies they can have atonement with one act of kaparot and compares it to korbanot. However, the Biur HaGra 605 s.v. VeLokchin argues that we pasken Ubar Yerech Imo (a dispute in Gemara Yevamot 78a whether a fetus is considered as the same entity as the mother or not and the halacha, according to the Gra is that the fetus is part of the mother) and so it is sufficient to exempt the mother together with the fetus with one female chicken if the fetus is female.</ref>

## A pregnant woman within 40 days of the pregnancy doesn't need to take a second chicken for Kapparot. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:3 </ref>

## A pregnant woman does not need to pick up all the chickens at once but it's sufficient to pick them up one at a time. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:4 </ref>

# If one can't get a chicken one should take a goose or other animal which isn't fit for a korban. Some say one may even take a live fish. <ref>Mishna Brurah 605:4, Nitei Gavriel 10:17,19 </ref>

# If one can't even do that then one should take money and circle it around one's head say זה חליפתי תמורתי כפרתי and give it to Tzedaka. <ref>

* Is it proper to do Kapparot with money?  

* Ashkenazim: Mishna Brurah 605:1-2 writes that if there's a concern that there'll be too many chickens for the shochet to slaughter properly one may do Kapparot early or take money, circle it around your head, and give it to Tzedaka. Similarly, Nitei Gavriel 10:17 writes that if one can't get a live animal then one should use money and circle it around one's head say זה חליפתי תמורתי כפרתי and give it to Tzedaka. see also Chayei Adam 144:4

* Sephardim: Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, 42:2,4,6) holds that the minhag is to use a chicken unless if one doesn't have a chicken, can't find someone who knows how to slaughter the chicken according to halacha, or finds it difficult (or no time) to clean the chicken and salt it, in which cases one may use money for Kaparot. Maaseh Nissim (vol 1, siman 204) agrees. [Yalkut Yosef in his discussion of Kapparot only discusses how to do it with chickens and doesn't even mention how to do it with money.] However, Sh"t Mayim Chaim 2:22 writes that one should avoid doing Kapparot with chickens and only do it with money. see also Kaf Hachaim 605:11 </ref>

# Some say that one should preferably use white chickens, however, many say that one shouldn't make a special effort to get a white chicken. Some say not to use a black chicken. <ref>Rama 605:1 emphasizes using a white chicken. However, the Mishna Brurah 605:4 quotes the achronim who say that one should not make a special effort to get white chickens. Nitei Gavriel 10:9 agrees and adds that one should be sure not to use a black chicken. </ref>

# If a man took a female chicken or a woman took a male chicken one fulfilled one's obligation yet it's preferable to repeat it with the correct gender chicken. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:11 </ref>

'''Procedure'''

# When performing Kaparot a person should think about Teshuva (repentance) imagining that the 4 types of death sentences that are carried out on the chicken should be happening to me. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 76) </ref>

# The minhag is to give the slaughtered chicken to a poor person or to redeem it with money and then give it to a poor person. <ref>Rama 605:1. Mishna Brurah 605:5 writes that if the poor person will be embarrassed to take the chicken because it looks like one put their sins on the chicken then one should redeem it and give the money to the poor but if the poor won't be embarrassed it's preferable to give the chicken to the poor because it requires less effort for the poor person to benefit. </ref>

===Covering the blood===

# After the slaughtering the Shochet there is a unique opportunity to preform the mitzvah of Kisui HaDam (covering the blood) by covering the blood of the chicken with dirt that was set aside beforehand. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 78), Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 227) </ref>

# The dirt should be designated by verbally stating that this dirt is for covering of the blood of the chicken. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 605:17) </ref>

# Dirt should be place beneath and above the blood of the chicken. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 605:17) </ref>

===Asking forgiveness===

# Yom Kippur doesn't grant one forgiveness for one's sins between a man and his fellow until one appeases and receives forgiveness from one's friend. Therefore, it's esspecially important to appease one's friend on Erev Yom Kippur. <ref>S"A 606:1 writes that Yom kippur doesn't atone for sins between man and his fellow until one appeases his friend. The Birkei Yosef 606:1 and Pri Megadim MZ 606 write that the special power of Yom Kippur to atone for one's sins between man and Hashem doesn't kick in for him until that person asks forgiveness from anybody who he offended  Mishna Brurah 606:1 explains that during the entire year if one offended one's friend one must appease him, however, if one was unable to do so then one may wait until tomorrow, however, the day before Yom Kippur one must fix everything in order to be cleansed of all one's sins.  </ref>

# If you are sure that the person that you offended has forgiven you some poskim nevertheless require that you go and humble yourself before them and ask for forgiveness while and other poskim say that you have achieved the desired result and there is no need to go ask specifically. <ref>  Devar Yehoshua 5:20 says that's enough while Moadim U'zmanim 1:55 quotes poskim that you still need to ask. see also Pele Yoetz on Teshuvah and Hirhurei Teshuvah, pg. 123. </ref>  

# If one received forgiveness only outwardly but in his heart the person he offended is still upset some poskim say he hasn't fulfilled his obligation of asking for forgiveness. <ref> Rav Elyashiv quoted in Torat ha'adam li'adam 3:page 36, Alei Shur 2: page 240. On the other hand, Rav Reuven Grozovsky quotes the Alter of Kelm in Sefer hazikaron Even Tzion page 542 that one has fulfilled his obligation. </ref>  

===Tevilah===

# Some have the practice to dip (Tovel) in the mikvah on Erev Yom Kippur and it's preferable to do so before Mincha but some have the practice to do it after Seuda Mafseket as long as one does it before nighttime. <ref>S"A 606:4, Mishna Brurah 606:17-8 </ref> Some say that one should does it after 5 halachic hours into the day but if one is unable one may do it after [[Olot HaShachar]] (dawn). <ref>Yalkut Yosef 606:4(1) </ref>

==Nighttime prayers of Yom Kippur==

==Yom Kippur morning prayers==

# It’s preferable to say less Piyutim slowly instead of saying many Piyutim quickly. <ref>Kaf HaChaim 620:4 </ref>

# One should sure to say at least ten Vidduy’s (confessions) on Yom Kippur. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 620:3 </ref>The Minhag is to count one from Mincha of Erev Yom Kippur, one from Arvit of the night, four from the four prayers during the day and four from the four Chazarat HaShatz’s. <ref>See Kaf HaChaim 620:5 </ref>

==Making one hundred Brachot==

# It’s a mitzvah to smell Besamim (nice smelling spices) and make the Bracha on them in order to get 100 Brachot on Yom Kippur. One may make this Bracha several times in the day as long as one had an interruption of thought. <Ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 283) </ref>

# For other details about making one hundred Brachot on Yom Kippur, see the [[Making one hundred Brachot daily]] page.

==Prohibitions of Yom Kippur==

# It's forbidden to do any Melacha (lit. work) on Yom Kippur which would be forbidden to do on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>S"A 611:2, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 282) </ref>

# Some weak, elderly people are prohibited to fast on Yom Kippur. <ref> Shabbat Shabbaton, 76 </ref>

# A pregnant woman who is suffering from bleeding must drink on Yom Kippur. <ref> Shabbat Shabbaton, 81 </ref>

==Surgery before Yom Kippur==

# One must postpone a non-emergency surgery until after Yom Kippur in order to be able to fast on Yom Kippur. <ref> Shabbat Shabbaton, 43 </ref>

==Washing on Yom Kippur==

# It’s forbidden to wash oneself in hot or cold water and even to stick one’s finger in water on Yom Kippur is forbidden. <Ref>S”A 611:1, 613:1 </ref>

# There’s no obligation to wash one’s hand prior to praying unlike the rest of the year. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 613:5 </ref>

# A bride for the first thirty days after her wedding may wash her face. <Ref>S”A 613:10, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 312) </ref>

==Anointing on Yom Kippur==

# It is forbidden to anoint even a part of one’s body with oil or ointment even if one is only doing so just to remove a bad smell. <Ref>S”A 614:1, Mishna Brurah 614:1, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 313). Nitei Gavriel 46:5 writes that this prohibition applies equally to women as men and references Minchat Chinuch 313. </ref>

==Wearing leather shoes==

# It’s forbidden to wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur. <Ref>S"A 614:2, Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 313) </ref>

# The Keter [[Kedusha]] is recited in Neilah, just like in Mussaf. <ref> Yalkut Yosef, Moadim, page 113 </ref>

# The congregation should continue to recite selichot until 20 minutes after sunset and then blow the shofar so that there is no concern that people will eat immediately afterwards because they think that Yom Kippur has already ended. <ref> Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Noraim, page 376 </ref>

==Havdalah==

# There is no Besamim bracha in the [[Havdalah]] even if Yom Kippur falls out on Motzei [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 384) </ref>

==Sources==

<References/>