Celebrating Yom Kippur and the festival of Sukkot

22 Sep 2023

Meaningful Yom Kippur and enjoyable festival of Sukkot to our Jewish colleagues

We would like to wish all our Jewish colleagues a meaningful Yom Kippur and enjoyable festival of Sukkot next week.  

As we approach Yom Kippur and the festival of Sukkot, we recognise these events and their importance to our Jewish community. 

What is Yom Kippur and the festival of Sukkot?  

Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement”. It is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, when people fast, pray and seek forgiveness.  

For nearly 26 hours Jewish people abstain from food and drink, do not wash or apply lotions or creams, and do not wear leather footwear. The day is spent in the synagogue, praying for forgiveness. 

The festival of Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest. Sukkot is celebrated by dwelling in a foliage-covered booth known as a Sukkah and by taking the ''Four Kinds'', four special species of vegetation - lulav (palm branch), hadas (myrtle), arava (willow) and etrog (citron).

When will Yom Kippur take place?  

Yom Kippur will commence at sundown on Sunday, 24 September and continues through nightfall on Monday, 25 Sept 2023. 

When is the festival of Sukkot? 

Sukkot 2023 begins at sunset on Friday, 29 September, and ends at nightfall on Friday, 6 October. 

What you need to know about supporting employees and students 

Have a conversation with students and colleagues about their faith and experiences and ask if they require any support.  

You can also make colleagues and students aware of the University-wide support available such as:   

• the Multi-Faith Chaplains,   
• student wellbeing support;   
• staff wellbeing support.   

Find out more  

• We aim to take a holistic approach that celebrates individuals and their many identities to ensure that we are truly inclusive of all our community. This is set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.   
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Religion or belief (including no belief) 
• Multi-faith chaplaincy