Yom Kippur
Halachic Digest 5784
An Overview Of The Laws Yom Kippur
יום הכיפורים תשפ”ד
Compiled by Rabbi Yoseph Vigler & Rabbi Mendel Zirkind
Rabbi@MayanYisroel.net
לעילוי נשמת הרב יצחק בן הרב אליעזר צבי זאב ע"ה צירקינד
Shabbos Shuva
In Magen Avos on Friday night we say המלך הקדוש instead of הא-ל הקדוש.
There are those who light "א תשובה ליכט" candle to burn all day Shabbos Shuva.
We omit "ויהי נועם – ואתה קדוש" on Motzei Shabbos since there is Yom Kippur during the week.
We wait until after Yom Kippur to make Kiddush Levana as that is an auspicious time.
Erev Yom Kippur
כפרות
The optimal time for (shechita of) kaporos is the last third of the night, after approximately 3am, before alos hashachar of Erev Yom Kippur, the time of Hashem’s חסד ורחמים.
However, you may do kaparos any weekday of Aseres Yemei Teshuva. If you missed it, according to some it can still be done on Hoshana Rabba.
Some men have a custom to immerse in the Mikvah before Kaporos.
Males and females should preferably use roosters and hens for kaporos respectively. But bedieved it does not make a difference.
A pregnant woman needs 2 hens and 1 rooster, since it is a ספק what she will give birth to and it’s lechatchila one chicken per person.
If an ultrasound shows the gender conclusively, take only 1 extra chicken based on the baby’s gender. If the ultrasound wasn’t fully conclusive you need three.
Even if a woman is expecting multiple babies, she does the same kaporos as any pregnant woman.
White chickens are optimal, as it says “I will whiten (your sins) like snow”. but any color chicken is good, (except black since it represents severity). Still, one must not specifically seek out white chickens
If chickens are unavailable use live fish or money (and say זה הכסף ילך לצדקה וכו’).
After each בני אדם swing the chicken over the head saying "זה חליפתי זה תמורתי זה כפרתי" [women say זאת חליפתי] (some do a total of 9 times). The acronym is ח'ת'ך' - the name of the Angel of life.
If doing kaporos for others (e.g. a child), say "זה חליפתך" [for a female "זאת"].
Preferably do your own kapara before doing for others - “let the innocent atone for the guilty”.
You cannot say the Pessukim if there is a foul odor from the chickens. Step away until you don’t sense the odor. So too if the chicken is dirty, wash or wrap it when saying the Pesukim
Preferably the Shechita should be done immediately after doing the Kaporos.
Carry the chicken gently, and avoid grabbing it by its wings, as it may cause damage to the bones or joints, which would render it treif. If the chicken falls while you are holding it, let the shochet know, so it can be checked carefully.
If waiting in line for Shechita make sure the live chicken is not able to see the Shechita of other chickens; as this can cause trauma that may damage its lungs and render it treif. Also, it is tzaar baalei chaim, causing pain to a living creature.
If the שחיטה was not properly done, you must redo the kapara.
If the שחיטה is good you’re yotzeh even if the chicken is found to be treif later.
The Mitzvah of covering the blood belongs to the שוחט. If you wish to do it yourself, you must request his permission. The bracha is “אקב"ו על כסוי דם בֶּעפר”. It is best to recite the bracha after the שוחט checks his knife after the Shechita although in reality this is impractical.
Though the Shochet can’t officially charge money for the mitzvah, it is proper to compensate him for the right to do the Kisui hadam
Donate the value of kaporos to the poor (but not the actual chicken lest you embarrass them).
Kaporos money used should not be from Ma’aser.
שחרית
From this morning until the end of Tishrei, we do not say Tachanun.
We omit מזמור לתודה, למנצח יענך, תפלה לדוד, אבינו מלכנו.
The minhag is to ask the gabbai or Rov for lekach (honey cake) and eat it - If it was decreed for you to beg this year, you should be yotzeh by begging for lekach now.
מחילה
Yom Kippur only atones for averos between us and Hashem. For averos against one’s fellow man, you must first ask forgiveness from the victim directly so that Yom Kippur can atone.
Before Yom Kippur ask forgiveness from anyone you may have hurt.
If your friend doesn’t forgive, request 3 times (using 3 different approaches).
Requesting mechila each time needs to be done in front of three people.
(Some hold that you need three people even the first time you ask forgiveness. Others say you ask once privately. If he does not forgive you, take 3 people another 3 times)
If the person still refuses to forgive, you need not ask again. You proclaim before 10 people that you tried to appease him, so that nobody suspects that you never tried. But if one wronged his teacher, he must ask forgiveness as many times as it takes, until he forgives.
If it may embarrass the victim, do not specify how you hurt them, only that you wronged them.
The one who was wronged should not be cruel about forgiving.
If you gave someone a bad name publicly, then strictly speaking the victim need not forgive. However, midas Chassidus is to forgive nonetheless
One should ask מחילה from a non-Jew too.
Meals
It is a Mitzvah to eat extra on Erev Yom Kippur, (more than the amount of one day).
Fasting today is forbidden. Eating is a mitzvah today even for one with a heter to not fast Yom Kippur (unless it’ll make him ill).
At meals today, the challah is dipped into honey.
We have a meal (with challah) early in the day, before Mincha, in addition to Seudah mafsekes
The table should be set as on Shabbos with a tablecloth and round Challos.
Some wear shabbos clothes for the meal. (or even all day long).
We eat fish & chicken that digest well, not meat. In the first meal it’s a mitzvah to eat fish
We eat kreplach (dough with ground chicken - not meat).
Men should not eat all day garlic and eggs. Some also include: aged wine and many fruits.
Sesame seeds should not be eaten all day.
Dairy is avoided at Seudah Mafsekes. Some forbid dairy all day (except milk in coffee).
At Seudah Mafsekes men avoid spicy foods and alcohol. Some avoid salt completely.
Mikvah
It’s a mitzvah to immerse in the mikvah preferably after midday.
Some toivel after Seudah Mafsekes. Many toivel several times - before Shacharis, before mincha and after Seudah Mafsekes, but the minimum is once
Even young adults from bar mitzvah should go to Mikvah.
One should dip three times, but if that is not possible, dipping once is sufficient.
If no Kosher mikvah is available, one may dip in a ground swimming pool, but not in a detached pool. The water must be stationary (e.g. not whilst the water is being emptied out). Also, one cannot immerse in a pool where the plug the water goes out from is situated at the bottom of the pool
Ensure there’s no chatzitza on the body, preventing mikvah water from reaching all over. Nails should be cut and cleaned (it is best to cut the hand and toe nails on separate days), hair untangled, teeth flossed and the body pre-washed.
Where possible, the tevilah of Erev Yom Kippur is for married women too.
If you are ill and cannot go, some poskim say you may be yotze by showering provided that:
You stand under the shower for at least 3 – 4 minutes.
The hands should be placed loosely so that the water reaches all over.
The bottom of the feet should be moistened beforehand.
There should be no Chatzitzah on the body.
Malkus and Mincha
Mincha is davened early enough to say Al Cheit and eat Seuda mafsekes etc.
Give extra Tzedaka before Mincha. The Baal Shem Tov says that from the clanging sound of the coins, the klipos, (= the forces of evil,) are dispersed.
Minhagim vary if we do malkus and when - before Mikvah or after Mincha
A leather belt is used for malkus.
The striking is done lightly.
Shulchan Aruch says to do malkus 39 times on the back, (strike on right shoulder, left shoulder, then middle lower back, and repeat). Both the giver of malkus and recipient say “והוא רחום יכפר וגו’ three times, for a total of 39 words. Some say the recipient say אשמתי בגדתי וכו
The one receiving malkus bends down on his knees, facing north with his back to south.
In Mincha, after the first “יהיו לרצון”, say the Vidui whilst bending (like by Modim). We bang on the chest (or heart) at Ashamnu and Al Cheit, and some also bang by סלח לנו מחל לנו כפר לנו.
If you forgot vidui you need not repeat mincha, but you can say it even after Mincha.
If you are still davening Al Cheit when the chazan is repeating the Amida, you may answer Amen for המלך הקדוש and Amen of the bracha שומע תפילה but not any other Amens. You can also answer in Kedusha only the Pessukim קדוש ברוך וימלוך. You can answer Modim, only the first three words - מודים אנחנו לך. If the chazan is saying Kaddish you can answer only Amen of אמן יהא שמי’ה רבא and Amen of דאמירן בעלמא
There is neither Tachnun nor Avinu Malkenu after Chazoras HaShatz.
סעודה המפסקת
Seudah Mafsekes is after Mincha.
We wash and dip the bread in honey .
Fish is not eaten during this meal because it increases zera.
It is a Mitzvah to extend from chol to kodesh - to accept Yom Kippur a few minutes earlier, and end a few minutes later. (This applies every Shabbos and Yom Tov).
Women usually accept the fast at licht bentchen so they must remove leather shoes prior.
If you intend to eat after bentching, it is best to have that in mind (preferably verbally) before bentching.
However, if you did not have in mind, you may still eat (until the zman).
Even if your Seudah must be rushed, take care to eat at least a kebeitza of Challah so that you can make the Bracha על נטילת ידים. If you will eat less than that, wash without a bracha. To bentch ברכת המזון, you must eat a minimum of a kezayis.
Before the Fast
Some toivel after Seudah Mafsekes, close to Yom Kippur, provided there’s time before sunset.
Licht bentchen: We light candles as every Shabbos and Yom Tov.
The brochos are להדליק נר של יום הכיפורים and שהחיינו.
If no one is staying home after Licht bentchen, either sit by the light of the candles for a while now or, ensure the candles burn till you return home later.
Married men light a 24 hour “lebedike licht” - in addition to Yizkor candle for deceased parents. Some light the “lebedike licht” in Shul and Yizkor licht at home; others do the opposite.
Another 24 hour candle is left burning since after Yom Kippur we can only make havdala on a candle that was lit before Yom Kippur. It is preferable to designate a specific candle for the purpose of havdala after the fast.
We wear non-leather shoes.
Yom Kippur is a happy Yom Tov. Set a white table cloth just like any Yom Tov.
Before Kol Nidrei, utilize the moment when the heart is receptive to G-d to bentch your kids for a good year and yiras Shamayim. Begin with Birchas Kohanim. Add brochos of your choice. Some use the nusach printed in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.
Eve of Yom Kippur
Everybody (married - according to most minhagim) wears a tallis for Maariv.
The bracha on the Tallis should be recited before sunset.
Whenever you put on a Tallis (except on Shabbos according to some), first check that the strings are kosher unless you wore that Tallis earlier today (by Shachris)).
Married men (except in 1st year of marriage) wear Kittels, to portray angelic purity and lack of sin.
Time permitting, say Al cheit and vidui at sunset, before Kol Nidrei. It should be said standing without leaning on anything that if moved, you would fall, and according to the other laws of saying Vidui mentioned earlier. Some say special Tefilos that contain Vidui at this time.
According to the Baal Shem Tov’s tradition to say 3 chapters of Tehillim daily starting from the first day of Elul, before Kol Nidrei chapters 115-123 are said.
The number of Sifrei Torah taken out before Kol Nidrei varies by custom.
It’s a mitzvah to purchase the right to take out the first Sefer Torah at Kol Nidrei.
2 people, acting as a Beis Din with the chazan, stand by the chazzan as he begins. Everyone (including women) should say Kol nidrei along with the Chazan, loud enough that the people next to you can hear it. One should make sure to understand the words.
As the chazan says שהחיינו, everyone recites it themselves (except ladies or anyone who lit candles and said the bracha earlier) and complete it in time to answer אמן to his bracha.
ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו is said aloud all day also in kriyas shema al hamitah.
One should learn the meaning of the Tefilos of Yom Kippur, particularly the Selichos and Piyutim, and understand them. Accordingly, using an English Machzor is recommended.
Whenever the Chazan repeats Vidui, the congregation stands up and say together with him.
After maariv, some say the first 4 chapters of Tehillim. Some say the whole Tehillim (and repeat the first 4 chapters). Additionally, according to the tradition from the Baal Shem Tov mentioned earlier, before one goes to sleep he says chapters 124-132.
It's best that men not wrap themselves with blankets (and at least not cover their feet) when going to sleep (so as not to warm up the body).
The five prohibitions of Yom Kippur are
eating & drinking,
washing (even just putting a finger in cold water),
wearing leather shoes (even if only part of the shoe is leather),
marital relations (including the Harchakos),
putting on any kind or cream or lotion etc.
Even small children don’t wear leather shoes, and we do not wash/bathe them.
Anything that is prohibited on Shabbos is prohibited on Yom Kippur.
YOM KIPPUR DAY
There are varying opinions when and whether we bentch the bracha שעשה לי כל צרכי
Someskip it since we don’t wear leather shoes, (non-leather shoes don’t count)
Others do make the bracha in the morning, particularly if wearing non leather shoes
Some omit the bracha entirely.
Others recite it at night when putting on leather shoes.
Whoever has kavana at the beginning of Adon Olam, is guaranteed his Tefillah is heard; the Satan cannot negatively affect his Tefillos on Yamim Noraim; and his enemies fall before him.
On a marble or stone floor you cannot bow directly without a separation e.g. paper towels. On a wooden or laminate floor or carpet, bowing directly on the floor is fine.
To ensure the daily requirement of 100 Brachos on Yom Kippur, one should smell בשמים, (you only repeat the Beracha when smelling again if you did not have in mind to smell again). The rest one should be יוצא by listening and answering אמן to the berachos of חזרת הש”ץ and the Aliyos.
According to the Baal Shem Tov’s tradition (above), after Mussaf one says chapters 133-141.
If you remove your tallis for 2 or 3 hours, you make a new bracha when you put it back on. If you intended to remove it for 2 or 3 hours but changed your mind and put it back on earlier, you do not make another bracha as long as you are wearing a tallis katan.
A person davening alone without a minyan may nevertheless recite Yizkor.
If One Cannot Fast
If you anticipate a shailah about fasting, ask in advance.
In low-risk pregnancies, the default is that women must fast. But it is best to ask a specific shailah on each individual’s circumstances
A pregnant woman close to term should discuss her situation with her doctor.
A woman in active labor may eat or drink without restrictions
A woman within three days of childbirth need not fast at all; one within the first week should consult a Rav. A week or more after childbirth, she should fast even if she feels weak. But fasting could be life-threatening or cause extreme pain, so always ask a shailah.
In a case of Pikuach Nefesh, eat and drink small amounts (shiurim) in intervals, under Rabbinic and medical guidance. (unless life and death necessitates more / more frequently). A Rov must be consulted. However, in real time, one can assess their health situation themselves without consulting a Rav
Remember the main mitzvah is to fast. It is best to decrease one’s activities to be able to fast as usual, even remaining in bed and resting all of Yom Kippur if necessary. Aiding an expectant mother to fast properly is a priority, even her husband cannot attend shul as a result
When one is required to eat on Yom Kippur for whatever reason,
No Kiddush is recited and there is no need to eat challah at all, let alone lechem mishneh - because there never was a takana for these on Yom Kippur. There are opinions that you should have lechem mishneh. But even so, there is no need to exert oneself to get it.
Before eating bread wash hands as is done throughout the year, just like the kohanim wash at duchaning even on Yom Kippur. If one is eating bread less than the size of an egg, the bracha Al Netilas Yadayim is not said.
If you ate enough hamotzi that requires Birkas hamazon, add "יעלה ויבוא...ביום הכיפורים הזה ביום סליחת העון הזה ביום מקרא קודש הזה". But if you forgot either, you do not go back as is always the דין in a meal where there is no obligation to have bread davka.
Nowadays, children under bar or Bas mitzvah need not fast the entire fast.
It is disputed in Shulchan Aruch whether a child above the age of 11 is Rabbinically obligated to fast on Yom Kippur. Practically we are lenient in a case where the child is not strong enough to handle the fast, even if there is no danger involved if he were to complete the fast. Today all children are considered weak Based on this, people today are no longer accustomed to educating their child to fast the entire day of Yom Kippur even after 11 years old, until they become Bar or Bas Mitzvah. However, if you know for certain that the child is healthy enough to handle the fast, then this leniency does not apply
In general, there is no basis to having children fast 3 fasts before bar / bas mitzvah
From age 9 or 10 (depending on their strength), they should try to fast partially by postponing mealtime progressively, according to their strength.
Making children under 9 or 10 fast at all, when they wish to eat, is an error(Note - a slight delay of eating is permitted if the child is interested. If not, they may eat even as the fast begins)
Make sure the children make brochos before eating.
Preparing food for after the fast
We do not prepare food for after the fast until the fast is over. Preparing food on Yom Kippur for children or ill people is permissible, unless they could prepare it on their own. If preparing for an ill person for after the fast, it is best to give some of the food to a child (so that it be regarded as preparing food for the same day)
Washing
All washing is prohibited.
Neggel vasser should be up to where the knuckles (3 times on each hand). One should have in mind to wash for the mitzvah and not for enjoyment.
If you need to wash out the dirt on your eyes, you may do so if you do so regularly.
If a part of your body got dirty and needs to be washed, you may wash (only) there.
Kohanim wash the entire hand for duchaning. Some have the minhag that the Kohanim wash the entire hand, even past the fingers, already in the morning.
A Kallah within 30 days of the wedding can wash her face and hands. Some say that this permissibility does not apply if the Chosson will not see the Kallah the whole day.
When entering the bathroom, the kittel should be removed along with the Tallis (and gartel) as they are both clothing designated for davening only.
MOTZEI YOM KIPPUR
You may blow Shofar even before nightfall. However, since people are used to the Shofar being the signal for the end of the fast, it is better to blow after צאת הכוכבים
According to the Baal Shem Tov’s tradition, after Neilah we say the last 9 chapters of Tehillim.
We do not remove the tallis for Maariv until after Kiddush Levanah. But you take the Tallis off your head and wear a hat instead, since night is not the time for Tzitzis. Others leave the tallis on the head for Maariv too.
If you mistakenly said “המלך הקדוש” or “המלך המשפט” do not go back.
If you mistakenly said זכרנו לחיים"”, or any other of the additions of Aseres Yemei teshuva:
If you are still in the middle of that bracha, go back to the beginning of that bracha.
If you passed that bracha, you finish Shmoneh Esrei and when finished, it is proper to repeat Shmoneh Esrei after as a תפלת נדבה
On Motzei Yom Kippur we wish each other a gut Yom Tov.
If your candle went out during Yom Kippur light it again now to burn fully.
We end up fasting 26 hours on Yom Kippur (Or at least 25 and a bit), corresponding to the Gimatriya of Yud Kay Vav Kay.
It is proper to wash the entire hand for neggel vasser without a bracha even a Kohein that washed his entire hand on Yom Kippur for Duchaning.
Havdala on Motzei Yom Kippur is always with wine and a candle (unlike other Yamim Tovim).
The candle may only be one that was lit from before Yom Kippur (or at least a candle that was not lit by a match but rather, lit from that candle). If you don’t have one, skip the candle entirely.
It is preferable to combine another wick to the candle so you have two wicks for havdala
It is best to light a 24 hour candle before Yom Kippur dedicated for havdala after Yom Kippur.
If you don’t have a dedicated candle, you may use the Yahrzeit candle or Lebedike Licht if you light another candle (or Havdala Licht) from it, and make the beracha on both together
Women (who are unable to wait for their husbands to return from shul before eating) may recite their own havdalah. They may use wine or grape juice, or chamar medinah like coffee or tea.
If they are unable to recite havdalah, they may drink water in the interim (unlike ordinarily on motzei Shabbos). If truly necessary, they may drink seltzer, and even tea or plain coffee without sugar or milk.
If you forgot to recite havdalah before eating, recite it as soon as you remember. If you remember after reciting hamotzi for bread or mezonos for cake, etc. but before having tasted anything, take a bite and then recite havdalah.
A man who has previously recited havdalah may not repeat it for the sake of a woman who has not heard havdalah. If a man plans to return home after Shul and recite havdalah for his wife, he should have in mind not to fulfill his obligation with the havdalah that he is presently hearing in Shul.
If you intend to eat hamotzi or mezonos right after havdalah, and these foods are on the table when you recite havdalah, cover them until you conclude havdalah.
Do Kiddush levana if possible, with joy, confident that G-d is bentching us with a healthy good year
We sit down to a proper full Seudah. This Seudah draws down gashmiyus for the year.
We get involved in a mitzvah immediately and begin building the Succah on Motzei Yom Kippur. At least, discuss the building of the Succah. Some learn a little Mishnayos Succah to be yotzeh.
גמר חתימה טובה!