He has met several times with Jewish leaders at the Vatican. It’s an orthodox Jewish thing.
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Ne’ilah is the concluding service of Yom Kippur. Prayers include confessions of sins and requesting forgiveness for any wrongs done.
It would be a shame, though, if all non-Jewish people ever associated with Yom Kippur was chicken sacrifices.
Police said security will be beefed up and Muslim men under age 40 will be banned from the compound’s Al-Aqsa mosque for the 25-hour Yom Kippur fast starting at sundown Tuesday.
Last week’s clashes occurred as Jews celebrated their New Year, or Rosh Hashanah. On Yom Kippur, God (often referred to as HaShem, Hebrew for “The Name”) is said to take a look at the deeds of the Jewish people and to seal each person’s fate in the “Book of Life”.
In the Jewish tradition, at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, which is an hour past sundown Wednesday, each person’s fate for the coming year is sealed.
The day marks one of the largest attendance days at synagogues, and is spent fasting and praying. In 1995, Pope John Paul II arrived in the USA on Yom Kippur for a trip that included an address to the United Nations, which is also on Francis’ agenda.
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“Our services start Tuesday evening at 8 p.m.”, he said. “What better place to hold Yom Kippur services as we atone for our sins against the Earth?” And that’s a skill kids need to know! Are you spending the Day of Atonement with your family and friends? And then talk about the importance of saying you’re sorry when you hurt people’s feelings.
