What Is Yom Kippur?

For Jews, Yom Kippur is a day of atonement, a time to seek God's forgiveness for the sins of the past year. For Gentiles, it's a chance to learn a little more about one of the world's most enduring faiths--and to rediscover a ritual specifically commanded in the Bible. In fact, you probably know most of the story, either from the Bible or Cecil B. DeMille.

Incensed that the people of Israel had worshipped a golden calf rather than the Lord, Moses cast down and broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments he had received on Mount Sinai. Well, between a faithless act of idol worship and a broken covenant, you pretty much have to say you're sorry--and mean it.

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