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Yom Kippur, which translates to the "Day of Atonement," is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It is the last of 10 days of repentance starting with Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), and is typically marked with worship, reflection, and abstention, including 25 hours of fasting.
Those who observe Yom Kippur traditionally abstain from comforts (like wearing leather shoes or jewelry), wear white (to symbolize a clean slate and fresh start), and spend the day in Yom Kippur prayer. There is a festive meal to break the fast after sundown, and in some Jewish communities, also a semi-festive but solemn meal before the fast begins.
How to greet someone on Yom Kippur
The traditional Yom Kippur greeting does not correspond to a typical "happy holiday" message, like one that you might share on other more joyous occasions. Because of the solemnity of the observance, appropriate Jewish greetings on Yom Kippur are more about meaningfulness and reflection. So, while it's not standard to wish someone a "happy Yom Kippur," it is certainly appropriate to wish them a meaningful one.
When is Yom Kippur this year?
The holiday doesn’t fall on the same day each year, because the Jewish calendar is luni-solar. (Its months are based on lunar months, and its years are based on solar years.) According to the Jewish calendar, the current year is 5783. Rosh Hashanah marks the start of 5784. On the Gregorian calendar, this year, Yom Kippur begins at sundown on Sunday, September 24, and ends at nightfall on Monday, September 25, 2023.
As Yom Kippur approaches, you might be wondering what to say to someone who observes the Jewish High Holiday. Ahead, read about appropriate Yom Kippur greetings to share with friends and loved ones, in English as well as in Hebrew and Yiddish.
Traditional Yom Kippur greetings
Jews who observe Yom Kippur ask G-d to forgive them for any sins committed in the last year and seal them in the "Book of Life" for another year. Therefore, before and on Yom Kippur, Jews wish each other G'mar chatimah tovah (גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה) — which translates to, "A good final sealing" in English. More simply, G'mar tov (גְּמַר טוֹב) in Hebrew translates to "a good seal" in English. This abbreviated version is often used as well.
Because Yom Kippur is a fasting holiday, it is common for Jews to wish each other an "easy fast." In Hebrew, you would say Tzom kal (צוֹם קַל).
Common Yom Kippur greetings in English
You can say or send any of these Yom Kippur wishes in English:
- "Wishing you a meaningful Yom Kippur."
- "Have an easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur."
- "May you have an easy fast."
Other Yom Kippur greetings in Hebrew and Yiddish
Gut Yontif is a traditional Yiddish greeting, which means "Good Yom Tov." In Hebrew, the term Yom Tov (יוֹם טוֹב) refers to the Jewish holy days — so this is a traditional wish for a good holiday.
For the entire season, it’s appropriate to nod to the new year ahead. The most common greeting on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is Shanah Tovah (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה) in Hebrew, which translates to "good year" in English.
Sometimes, the Shanah Tovah greeting is made more effusive by adding umetukah ("and sweet") to the end. The greeting Shanah tovah umetukah (שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה) translates to wishing someone a "good and sweet year."
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Jamie Kravitz (she/her) is the digital editor at Woman's Day, where she oversees the brand's digital platforms and covers holidays, food, and more. Before joining WD in 2021, she was a digital editor at the Rachael Ray Show. Jamie has over five years of experience writing relationship, entertainment, home, and gifting content for publications including The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, Insider, and Elite Daily. She graduated from Emerson College with a BFA in Writing, Literature and Publishing and lives in Brooklyn with her cats, Lumos and Linus.
