MIDDLE EAST: Jews take part in ceremonies ahead of Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, while Israel imposes a full closure on the West Bank

Record ID: 860643

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: Jews take part in ceremonies ahead of Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, while Israel imposes a full closure on the West Bank
  • Date: 8th October 2011
  • Summary: RELIGIOUS JEWS GATHERED NEAR BEACH VARIOUS OF RELIGIOUS JEWS TAKING PART IN TASHLICH CEREMONY WOMEN PRAYING DURING CEREMONY
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Jerusalem, Israel, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA4THHBKWXIZYNOQC9YWTCC93HN
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Jews rushed to the markets, and took part in religious ceremonies ahead of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur while Israel increased security in Jerusalem and imposed a closure on the West Bank on Friday (September 17).
    In Jerusalem, religious Jews waved chickens over their head during a ceremony called 'kaparot' ahead of Yom Kippur -- Hebrew for 'day of atonement'-- for special prayers, asking forgiveness for their sins.
    "The holiday is 'Yom Hakipurim', when you do the 'kapara', you take the chicken around the head and you say, if something bad has to happen to me, it should happen to the chicken," said Ekhiel, a man taking part in the ceremony.
    In the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv, dozens of religious Jews took part in the ceremony called 'Tashlikh' where the previous year's sins are symbolically "cast off" into a large, natural body of flowing water.
    Meanwhile the Israeli army sealed off all crossings between Israel and the Palestinian territories for the duration of the holiday, citing security concerns.
    In East Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinians from enter the Old City for Friday prayers.
    At the Qalandia checkpoint, the main terminal checkpoint separating the West Bank city of Ramallah from Jerusalem, Abu Mohammad said he had an Israeli-issued permit to enter Jerusalem, but was still prevented from entering.
    "I went in and they (referring to Israeli soldiers) told me you cannot go in with a praying permit, there is a closure," he said.
    The closure will be in place until midnight Saturday (September 08).
    Yom Kippur is a public holiday in Israel and most offices and businesses are closed. There are no radio or television broadcasts and many Israeli Jews, secular and religious, choose to fast, abstaining from food and drink for the 25-hour period, from sunset on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the night sky on Saturday.
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