Yom Kippur - יום כיפור

Order of Service:

-     Beginning Yom Kippur: There is a special blessing for lighting candles on Yom Kippur:

• Kol Nidre - The Evening Service: This is actually a legal document that serves as an annulment of vows made to G-d (not to people, as any resolution of this type needs to be made with the people concerned) during the previous year. This recognises that we cannot always keep the promises that we make to G-d, in recognition of the limitations of human nature.
• Shachrit – The Morning Service:  This includes the Amidah (standing prayer),Torah readings, the Yizkor Memorial Service, the Musaf service, which is typically added on Shabbat and holidays and recalls the special sacrifices that were bought to the Temple on those days.
• Minchah – The Afternoon Service: This includes the Amidah (standing prayer, Torah readings, and the Haftorah reading (historic and prophetic) of Jonah (a story in which Jonah learns that rather than being judgemental (as he has been himself) G-d is compassionate and forgiving.
• Neilah – The Closing Service:  This service is only performed on Yom Kippur and signifies the closing of the gates of heaven.  This includes the Amidah (standing prayer).  During this service, the doors to the Torah Ark are kept open, so that the congregation may be standing for as long as an hour.  This is followed by a blast on the Shofar, followed by the Ma’ariv – the Evening Service.  

The proceedings conclude with the Havdalah ceremony and then the fast is broken. Some people go outside and hammer together two pieces of wood to symbolise moving on from Yom Kippor and turning their thoughts to Sukkot.

References:

Black, N.(Ed.) (1989) Celebration – The Book of Jewish Festivals, Jonathan David Publishers, Inc. New York.

Falcon PhD, Rabbi T. and Blatner, D. (2001) Judaism for Dummies, Hungry Minds, New York.

www.chabad.org/holidays