Yom Kippur 2005 was only one of two High Holy holidays as set fourth by the Jewish faith.  Yom Kippur is not one that can be easily understood without a little research.

The main question asked always seems to be 'when is Yom Kippur?' to which there is no one answer.  The reason for this is the Jewish calendar is different from that of the Roman calendar that most of us use.  So if you were to ask a Jew 'when is Yom Kippur?', then they may respond 'what year?'  The Yom Kippur date is determined by the end of the forty days of repentance, which begin with the first of Elul. 

Yom Kippur 2005 was on October 1.  This will change each year depending on the calendar.  The Yom Kippur date for 2006 is October 12.   Yom Kippur 2005 marked the end of the repentance season for the Jewish community.  Yom Kippur 2005, like all the other Yom Kippur date, is one of the High Holy holidays that is celebrated by nearly all people of the Jewish faith, even those who do not attend services regularly.  Yom Kippur 2005, like those in the past, is often times referred to as the Sabbath of Sabbaths. 

The Yom Kippur date is irrelevant to the importance of the holiday.  Yom Kippur translates to 'Day of Atonement' and is the day for all people of the Jewish faith to make amends for all wrong doings in the previous year.  According to the Jewish teachings, Yom Kippur is the day that the Book of Life is closed by God and all those who repented of their sins are blessed with a good New Year.  Yom Kippur is also a time to resolve broken promises made to God and to other people.  Since God cannot, according to the Jewish faith, resolve problems between people, it is up to each individual to make amends to his fellow man. 

The Yom Kippur date is also considered a day of NOT doing anything.  Work, eating and drinking, anointing with lotions, martial relations and wearing leather shoes are all prohibited activities.  There are some exceptions made.  Women who are pregnant and in the first three months are prohibited from fasting even if they want to.  Children can also be excused from the ritual.  It is also customary to not allow anything that could create physical harm to a person.  Someone who is weak from illness for instance is not required to fast. 

So if you happen to ask a person of the Jewish faith when is Yom Kippur, then you may get an answer that makes little sense to you.  This is of course not their intention, but the Jewish faith is steeped in tradition.  Yom Kippur 2005 was one of many Jewish High Holidays that went off with out an issue and is marked with a renewed sense of self and happiness.   Look to local research areas for more information, but do not expect to see the words 'God' or 'Lord' written anywhere.  Writing the name of the God is considered a sin.

Now that you know maybe a little or a lot more about Yom Kippur make the most of the holiday, but only if you are Jewish of course, otherwise you may get a few strange looks form your family and relatives. However if you have just found out that you are part Jewish then you might like to learn a bit more about the traditions that go with Yom Kippur.