Judaism Fast Facts

CNN Library

Updated 4:26 PM ET, Fri August 30, 2019

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Yom Kippur is Judaism's day of atonement, when devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their transgressions and refrain from eating and drinking, attending intense prayer services in synagogues.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – Yom Kippur is Judaism's day of atonement, when devout Jews ask God to forgive them for their transgressions and refrain from eating and drinking, attending intense prayer services in synagogues.
Hide Caption
1 of 15
During the holiday, the streets in Israel's cities are nearly empty in respect of the holiday. Businesses, public transportation and even Israeli television and radio broadcasts are suspended, according to Israel's tourist information website.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – During the holiday, the streets in Israel's cities are nearly empty in respect of the holiday. Businesses, public transportation and even Israeli television and radio broadcasts are suspended, according to Israel's tourist information website.
Hide Caption
2 of 15
Israeli children ride their bikes on an empty street during Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – Israeli children ride their bikes on an empty street during Yom Kippur in Tel Aviv.
Hide Caption
3 of 15
Men and women participate in a Selichot prayer ahead of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Selichot is Hebrew for forgiveness.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – Men and women participate in a Selichot prayer ahead of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Selichot is Hebrew for forgiveness.
Hide Caption
4 of 15
A child walks in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – A child walks in Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood.
Hide Caption
5 of 15
Romanian Jews, seen through a glass door, attend a religious service ahead of Yom Kippur at the Great Synagogue in Bucharest, Romania.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – Romanian Jews, seen through a glass door, attend a religious service ahead of Yom Kippur at the Great Synagogue in Bucharest, Romania.
Hide Caption
6 of 15
Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men roll a Torah scroll ahead of Yom Kippur in Jerusalem.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men roll a Torah scroll ahead of Yom Kippur in Jerusalem.
Hide Caption
7 of 15
An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man whips another ultra-Orthodox Jew with a leather strap as a symbolic punishment for his sins during the traditional Malkot ceremony, ahead of Yom Kippur, in Jerusalem.
Photos: Photos: Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur – An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man whips another ultra-Orthodox Jew with a leather strap as a symbolic punishment for his sins during the traditional Malkot ceremony, ahead of Yom Kippur, in Jerusalem.
Hide Caption
8 of 15