Halocho #653 - The Yom Kippour Mitzva

There is a Mitzva in the Torah unique to Yom Kippour: afflicting oneself.

To fulfill this Mitzva properly one should keep in mind that the Yom Kippour restrictions are a fulfillment of this 25-hour long Mitzva. This Mitzva includes the following prohibitions:

- On Yom Kippour one may not eat nor drink, even when Yom Kippour is on Shabbat, like this year. If fasting will affect your health, contact a doctor and a Rabbi for instructions.

- On Yom Kippour one may not bathe; one may not even get wet unnecessarily. Upon awakening and after relieving oneself one can wash until the knuckles. Before Birkat Cohanim, the Cohanim wash until their wrists.

- On Yom Kippour no anointing is allowed. This includes perfumes and deodorants.

- On Yom Kippour one may not wear leather shoes. 

- On Yom Kippour one may not have marital relations.

All the above are forbidden from candle-lighting on Erev Yom Kippour (Friday afternoon, this week) until after Havdala some 25 hours later.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:1

Gmar Vechatima Tova
- Danny
Wednesday, 7 Tishrei 5771