Erev Yom Kippur Learning with Hadar

In ancient times, Erev Yom Kippur was a mini-holiday in its own right, known as Ma’al – derived from the Aramaic word for “erev”. This was an important day when people asked each other for forgiveness. It is found in the Talmud numerous times, including a poignant story about the great sage Rav asking Rabbi Hanina for forgiveness on Erev Yom Kippur 13 times (Yoma 87b). Jewish communities in Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, continued to refer to Erev Yom Kippur by this name until recently.

Prepare spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually for the holiday by learning about the themes and prayers of the day, enjoying soulful melodies and excerpts from Yom Kippur liturgy, and engaging in longstanding erev Yom Kippur traditions like making a yahrzeit candle and reciting prayers for loved ones. Join for the whole day or tune in for as many sessions as you like!