This Sunday night and Monday is the most solemn day in the Jewish year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Throughout Israel, and all over the world, Jews will refrain from eating and drinking, they will dress in white, and attend synagogue services to pray and hear the shofar, or ram’s horn. Even for believers in Yeshua, Yom Kippur is meaningful and solemn: it is a day to reflect with gratitude and humility on our individual salvation through Yeshua and join our people in prayer for national atonement and redemption.

This year is unique, because for the first time, after nearly two years of heightened terror attacks, a proactive emphasis on security is placing guards outside of every synagogue in Jerusalem. Officials also encouraged civilians with carry licenses to keep their weapon on them throughout Yom Kippur. The intent is to establish deterrence and prevent terror attacks before they happen.

Please pray for a safe and meaningful Yom Kippur for everyone, soldier and civilian, from every walk of life. Please also pray for atonement and redemption for Israel, on a personal and national level.