The climax of the Days of Awe is the most awesome day of all.

Yom
Kippur. The Day of Atonement. The day that Jews call “The Holy Day.” The
day when the Creator looks down upon His fasting, repenting, imploring
children, and says, “I have forgiven.”This book, in the tradition
of the other books in the ArtScroll Holiday Series, is a selection from
many sources, by several authors, each contributing nuggets that will
enrich the reader in many ways:

• The Overview presents an understanding of Yom Kippur’s unique function;
• The insights provide a broad cross section of anecdotes and ideas, culled from a broad range of literature and tradition;
• The laws offer a clear and authoritative digest of the relevant halachic material;
• The liturgical section contains some of the best known Yom Kippur prayers, translated and explained.

Drawn
from the rich lodes of Jewish thought and practice, the book will help
the reader enter the solemnity and joy of Yom Kippur, for just as there
is nothing more sobering than the realization that one’s fate hangs in
the scales of Heavenly justice, so there is nothing more exhilarating
than the knowledge that the Creator and Judge waits hopefully for our
response to His plea, “Return to Me and I will return to you.”

We
matter. We make a difference in the Divine scheme. The world needs our
constructive efforts just as we need the mercy of our Maker. That is why
we must repent – not only to avoid punishment, but to make ourselves
and the world better.

It is the purpose of this volume to help
open up the message of Yom Kippur, for if we can better understand it,
we can better achieve the goals it sets forth for us.