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Today's verse is the Biblical source for the holiest day in the entire Jewish year: Yom Kippur. In the times when the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, the Yom Kippur service was the most intricate, requiring the High Priest (Kohen) to cleanse himself more than half a dozen times throughout the day, while the people fasted and prayed his service would be accepted by God. Though we are not fortunate enough to have the Temple and the many duties the High Priest would perform, we remind ourselves of his important work throughout the day's prayers, thereby emulating the holy service. On Yom Kippur, our focus is to plead with God to forgive the iniquities carried out by the Jewish nation, and eternally inscribe us in the Book of Life, and not the formidable Book of Death. In the Yom Kippur liturgy, we call out in unison that repentance, prayer, and charity are the keys to removing any evil decrees that are upon us thereby ensuring we will be given a year of health and happiness.
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