Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Also known as the Day of Awe, Yom Kippur is the day when God makes his final judgment on whether to write each person into the Book of Life. Yom Kippur culminates the period of repentance that began during the month of Elul and continued during Rosh Hashanah and throughout the ten days of repentance.
Yom Kippur is a major fast day, leading people to an angelic state, focusing solely on their spiritual side. Virtually the entire day is spent in synagogue praying, incorporating prayers of confession and detailing the service preformed in the holy temple on Yom Kippur.
At the end of Yom Kippur, a special service, ne'ilah, is recited-the only time all year ne'ilah is said. This caps off a 25-hour period of fasting and prayer, which people hope has staved off an evil decree, earning their place in God's Book of Life for the year to come.
