What are the deeper meanings of festivals?

LO: Make links between the festivals and the actions of a believer, and their own lives

Information File: Yom Kippur
At Yom Kippur adults do not eat or drink for a day so they can concentrate on thinking and praying about the things they had done wrong.
In ancient times when the Jewish people lived in the desert the shofar was blown and two identical goats were brought before the high priest, lots were cast and one goat would be sacrificed to God, the other led to the desert.. The high priest placed hands on the goat and said a prayer to say sorry for the things that the people had done wrong. The goat was then sent out into the desert as a symbol that all their collective wrongdoings were disappearing. The goat which was sacrificed to God took with it the sins that would be displeasing to God. This was a sign of atonement. When the Jewish people were truly sorry they were able to be ‘at one with God’.
Jewish people do not do this now. There are many different ways for them to say sorry to God at Yom Kippur. Some swing money around in a handkerchief over their heads. They say sorry to God and imagine their bad choices being scattered. They will then give the money to charity as a sign of wanting to do better in the future. Others sprinkle breadcrumbs into a river and pray that as the crumbs float away, they will take their bad choices with them.

Activity:

Yom Kippur marks the end of the year by dealing with the things that have gone wrong between believers and God. Share with the children something that you have done but regretted.
Ask the pupils to discuss with a talk partner
- Can anything be done about these things?
- What have you done in the past year that you regret?
- What could you do to put it right?
Share with the children information about how Jews mark Yom Kippur using the information file and other websites and clips suggested in the resources section at the beginning of this unit.
Ask the pupils to discuss with a talk partner
- Why do Jewish people think it is important to say sorry at least once a year?
- How do you think they feel after this festival?