Yom Kippur, a day of atonement and repentance, is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays. The Day of Atonement is marked by a 25-hour period of fasting, intense reflection and prayers, and involves a number of traditional ceremonies, including the Kaparot, where chickens are waved in the air and later ritually slaughtered.
Israel Observes Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, a day of atonement and repentance, is considered the holiest of Jewish holidays. The Day of Atonement is marked by a 25-hour period of fasting, intense reflection and prayers.
Uriel Sinai — Getty Images
A boy looks on as Ultra-Orthodox Jews perform the Kaparot ceremony on September 23, 2012 in Jerusalem, Israel.
