Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, begins at sundown on September 20, 2026, and concludes the following evening after nightfall on September 21. For Los Angeles families, whether you've been observing for decades or this is your first year taking the day more seriously, a little preparation goes a long way toward making Yom Kippur meaningful rather than merely difficult. Here's a warm, practical guide to help your family get ready.
What Yom Kippur Is About
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah. Tradition teaches that on this day, we stand before God stripped of the usual comforts and distractions of daily life, focused entirely on introspection, repentance (teshuvah), and reconnection. It's a day of profound seriousness, but also one of deep hope and even joy—the Talmud describes Yom Kippur as one of the most joyous days of the year, because it represents the possibility of a clean slate. The day is spent largely in synagogue, moving through a sequence of prayers—Kol Nidrei, Shacharit, Musaf, Mincha, and finally Neilah as the day draws to a close—that walk us through confession, longing, and ultimately closeness with the Divine.
The Basics of Observance
Yom Kippur is observed with a complete fast from food and drink, beginning before sunset on the eve of the holiday and continuing until after nightfall the next day. Beyond fasting, the day includes several other traditional restrictions: refraining from bathing or washing for pleasure, avoiding the use of lotions or perfumes, not wearing leather shoes, and abstaining from marital relations. Many people also refrain from all forms of work, much as on Shabbat.
Of course, health comes first. Anyone who is pregnant, nursing, elderly, ill, or otherwise medically advised against fasting should consult with their physician and a rabbi well before the holiday to understand what accommodations are appropriate. Children generally do not fast at all, though as they approach bar or bat mitzvah age, many families begin introducing partial fasting gradually and with guidance from a rabbi.
It's customary to eat a festive, hydrating meal before the fast begins—something substantial but not overly salty or heavy, to help the body through the next 25 hours. Many families also give extra tzedakah (charity) in the days leading up to Yom Kippur, and it's traditional to ask forgiveness from anyone we may have wronged during the year before the holiday arrives.
Preparing Your Home and Family
In the days before Yom Kippur, many families use the time to tie up loose ends—apologizing to friends or family, finishing any last errands, and setting the tone for a day of reflection. Because Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat-like footing in terms of restrictions, it helps to prepare candles, have machzorim (prayer books) ready, and lay out comfortable non-leather shoes in advance.
If you have young children who won't be fasting or attending full services, it's worth planning simple, quiet activities for them at home or during breaks from shul, so the adults in the family can focus on prayer without added stress. Many LA families rotate who stays home with little ones during different parts of the day.
Finding a Place to Pray in LA
Los Angeles is fortunate to have a wide range of synagogues and communities across the city, from Santa Monica to Beverly Hills to Long Beach, offering people at every level of observance a place to spend the day. Congregations such as Chabad House of Santa Monica, Bais Yehuda Naftoli in Los Angeles, Santa Monica Synagogue, Congregation Magen David of Beverly Hills, Mikvah Yisroel Lubavitch in Long Beach, and Hollywood Temple Beth El are all part of the fabric of Jewish life here, and each offers its own community atmosphere. If you're new to the area or looking for a shul that fits your family, it's worth reaching out directly to ask about their specific Yom Kippur schedule, seating, and any programs for children, since offerings vary from year to year and congregation to congregation.
A Day of Renewal
However you observe, Yom Kippur offers something valuable to every Jew: a full stop, a chance to look honestly at the past year, and an opportunity to walk into the new year lighter and more connected. For LA families juggling busy schedules the rest of the year, this is a rare gift—a full day set aside purely for the soul. Take the time in the days before the holiday to prepare thoughtfully, gather with family and community, and approach Yom Kippur not with dread, but with the hope and renewal it's meant to bring.
May you and your family have a meaningful fast and a G'mar Chatimah Tovah—a good and final sealing in the Book of Life.
