The service began with the worship leader saying:

“When Yahweh gave us the Law, all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance.”[1]

A shofar then sounded. For a recording of the shofar we opened the service with go here.

Cultivation – a short time of Bible study

The elder stood and and called:
“Please stand and repeat after me…
May all the people of Israel be forgiven,[2]
including all the strangers who live in their midst,[3]
for all the people are in fault.[4]
Thank you – you may be seated. "

The people repeated the prayer after him, indicating their sincere wish for the salvation of all mankind.

The elder then held the Scriptures high for all to see and said,
“The words, commandments and precepts of God are the standard by which we measure ourselves. It doesn’t matter what others think or by what standard others measure themselves.

• 2 Corinthians 10:12 HCSB  For we don't dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.
  

We choose to measure ourselves by the standard that our Judge uses.

The elder lowered the Scriptures and continued.
King Josiah did what was right in the Lord’s sight and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or the left. When he was sixteen he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. When he was twenty-six he gave the order to cleanse the land and God’s temple. He cleansed the land of idols. He tore down the altars to false gods and smashed the Asherah poles. He took the people’s taxes and gave the order to repair and restore Adonai’s temple. As they workmen were doing their work with integrity, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord written by the hand of Moses. He gave it to Shaphan the court secretary who took the book to King Josiah and read it to him. When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.[5] He commanded

• 2 Chronicles 34:21 HCSB  "Go. Inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah, concerning the words of the book that was found. For great is the LORD's wrath that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD in order to do everything written in this book."
  

They went to the prophetess Huldah who lived in Jerusalem and spoke with her about this.

• 2 Chronicles 34:23-28 HCSB  She said to them, "This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Say to the man who sent you to Me,  (24)  'This is what the LORD says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, fulfilling all the curses written in the book that they read in the presence of the king of Judah,  (25)  because they have abandoned Me and burned incense to other gods in order to provoke Me with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out on this place, and it will not be quenched.'  (26)  Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD: 'This is what the LORD God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard,  (27)  because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard'--this is the LORD speaking.  (28)  'I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place and on its inhabitants.'" Then they reported to the king.
  

Praise the name of the Lord God and blessed be He!

• Exodus 34:6-7 HCSB  …Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth,  (7)  maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin. But He will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers' wrongdoing on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.
  

Then the elder asks the people to stand with him as he prays. Those who are weak are free to remain seated or to be seated if they grow tired.

“Lord God! Man has a long and sordid history of sin and rebellion.

• Nehemiah 9:9-19 HCSB  You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea.  (10)  You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.  (11)  You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into churning waters.  (12)  You led them with a pillar of cloud by day, and with a pillar of fire by night, to illuminate the way they should go.  (13)  You came down on Mount Sinai, and spoke to them from heaven. You gave them impartial ordinances, reliable instructions, and good decrees and commandments.  (14)  You revealed Your holy Sabbath to them, and gave them commandments, statutes, and a law through Your servant Moses.  (15)  You provided bread from heaven for their hunger; You brought them water from the rock for their thirst. You told them to go in and possess the land You had sworn to give them.  (16)  But our ancestors acted arrogantly; they became stiff-necked and did not listen to Your commands.  (17)  They refused to listen and did not remember Your wonders You performed among them. They became stiff-necked and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in faithful love, and You did not abandon them.  (18)  Even after they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, "This is your God who brought you out of Egypt," and they had committed terrible blasphemies,  (19)  You did not abandon them in the wilderness because of Your great compassion. During the day the pillar of cloud never turned away from them, guiding them on their journey. And during the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go.
  

• Nehemiah 9:26-31 HCSB  But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. They flung Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who warned them to turn them back to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.  (27)  So You handed them over to their enemies, who oppressed them. In their time of distress, they cried out to You, and You heard from heaven. In Your abundant compassion You gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the power of their enemies.  (28)  But as soon as they had relief, they again did what was evil in Your sight. So You abandoned them to the power of their enemies, who dominated them. When they cried out to You again, You heard from heaven and rescued them many times in Your compassion.  (29)  You warned them to turn back to Your law, but they acted arrogantly and would not obey Your commandments. They sinned against Your ordinances, by which a person will live if he does them. They stubbornly resisted, stiffened their necks, and would not obey.  (30)  You were patient with them for many years, and Your Spirit warned them through Your prophets, but they would not listen. Therefore, You handed them over to the surrounding peoples.  (31)  However, in Your abundant compassion, You did not destroy them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God.
  

So now, our God – the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant – do not view lightly our current hardships.

• Nehemiah 9:33-34 HCSB  You are righteous concerning all that has come on us, because You have acted faithfully, while we have acted wickedly.  (34)  Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey Your law or listen to Your commandments and warnings You gave them.
  

We turn our backs in sorrow and embarrassment on all this history.[6] We bind ourselves to You and to Your ways. All those here who are able to understand and who have separated themselves from this world’s culture of materialistic sensuousness, pride and greed swear to confess our sins and repent of them. Please forgive us.

Search us, God, and know our hearts; test us and know our concerns. See if there is any offensive way in us; lead us in the everlasting way.[7] If say ‘We have fellowship with You,” and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. But if we walk in the light as you Yourself are in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Your Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, ‘We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, You are faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[8]

We claim this for ourselves. We hold to this promise. Holy Spirit help us now, as we go to our confessions. Clear our minds of our blinding tendency to justify ourselves. Help us to feel true godly grief that produces a repentance not to be regretted and leading to salvation. Help us to set aside mere worldly grief that produces death.[9]   

In the name of Yeshua ben Adonai, our Messiah who died to pay the penalty of our sins I pray these things. Amen.”

The elder then encouraged the people to meditate on the Word, confess their sins, and commit themselves to real change.

“Paul encouraged the Corinthians to cultivate godly grief for their sins. He said,

• 2 Corinthians 7:11 HCSB  For consider how much diligence this very thing--this grieving as God wills--has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you have commended yourselves to be pure in this matter.
  

We now move into the next stage of our service – Contemplation, Confession and Commitment. The following half hour will be dedicated to quiet meditation on the Word of God, confession of our sins to God or to an accountability partner, and commitment to change.

If you like, as you meditate, consider the guiding questions in your bulletin. Or, simply read the Word and quiet your spirit so that you can hear what God would have to say to you.

When you are ready, and a place is available for you, feel free to approach the confessional area. Paper is available for you to use. If you want to, write out what you need to confess to God. Then step outside to the patio area and place the confession in the chimeree and burn it. As you watch your listed sins burn, remember,

• Psalms 103:12-18 HCSB  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  (13)  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.  (14)  For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.  (15)  As for man, his days are like grass--he blooms like a flower of the field;  (16)  when the wind passes over it, it vanishes, and its place is no longer known.  (17)  But from eternity to eternity the LORD's faithful love is toward those who fear Him, and His righteousness toward the grandchildren  (18)  of those who keep His covenant, who remember to observe His instructions.
  

Finally, after having heard the Word of the Lord, having meditated on it, and having confessed your sin, commit yourself to change. Write down what worked for you this past year and thus what you should do more of in this coming year. You’ve already listed what you did wrong in confession. At this point write down steps you’re going to take to avoid doing that again. You’ve meditated on the Word and asked the Ruach’ ha Kodesh for clarity. Now ask the Spirit if there is some particular task you are to perform for the Trinity this year. Is there someone you need to witness to? Is there a mission you should go on? Is there an estranged loved one you should reach out to? Now is a good time to get alone with the Lord and determine these things.

Contemplation – meditation on the Word 

Is there someone in your life who has harmed you? Have you found it difficult to feel like forgiving them?

Redemption’s basic use had to do with the deliverance of persons or property that had been sold for debt.[10] What is your debt? What did you need to be redeemed from?

Discuss it in detail with Ga’al (Redeemer[11]).

If the redeemed person prospered, he or she could “redeem” it.[12] Could we ever redeem ourselves?

• Isaiah 64:5-7 But we are not godly. We are constant sinners, so your anger is heavy on us. How can people like us be saved? 6We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away. 7Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.

Do not be one of those who fail to call on His name or plead with Him for mercy. If He turns AWAY from those who do not call or plead, He will surely turn TO those who do.

When Christians perform righteous works, we are acknowledging our perpetual debt to our Redeemer. We cannot redeem ourselves through our works. However, we can and should display our gratitude. What works does Ga’al deserve from you that you have failed to give Him?

Confession – confession of our sins to God or an accountability partner 

Commitment – a determination to obey what we have learned or to put in barriers against the same sins in the future. 

Communion – individual partaking of the remembrance ritual we call Zakhar (pronounced za-hair). We encourage each husband to take their wife and family to the zakar table and lead them through the ritual yourselves. Gentlemen, be the priests of your homes tonight. 

Celebration – a time of singing and praise. We sang:

• There is a fountain
  
• Worthy is the Lamb / Crown Him with Many Crowns
  
• My Savior (I am not skilled to understand)

[1] Exodus 20:18
[2] Numbers 14:19
[3] Leviticus 19:34
[4] Romans 3:23
[5] 2 Chronicles 34:2-19
[6] Ezra 9:6
[7] Psalm 139:23-24
[8] 1 John 1:6-9
[9] 2 Corinthians 7:10
[10] Leviticus 25:25
[11] Genesis 48:16; Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; 78:35; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26; Isaiah 54:5, 8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:16; Jeremiah 50:34
[12] Leviticus 25:26

Importance: High – it is commanded (Leviticus 16:29-31; Numbers 29:7).

In fact, the Lord God takes this particular day so seriously that He had this to say:

• Leviticus 23:29-30 HCSB  If any person does not practice self-denial on this particular day, he must be cut off from his people.  (30)  I will destroy among his people anyone who does any work on this same day.
  

Mood: Somber and introspective

Background: This is the most solemn day of the year. On this day, the High Priest used to sacrifice sin offerings to atone for the sins of all the people. It was on this day that he was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies to offer incense. It is referred to in the New Covenant as “the Fast”.

• Acts 27:9 HCSB  By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Fast was already over, Paul gave his advice
  

Practice: It is characterized by soul-searching and repentance. This day is so significant that it is described as “a Sabbath of rest”, literally in Hebrew “a Sabbath of Sabbaths” (Leviticus 16:31; 23:32). The phrase “practice self-denial” in these passages is generally understood to mean fasting as that is the application found in Ezra 8:1; Psalm 35:13; 69:10. It has always been particularly associated with confession of sin Nehemiah 9:1-3; Daniel 9:3-5; Joel 2:12-13). We also see fasting closely associated with seeking God’s face, His favor, or protection (2 Chronicles 20:3; Esther 4:16; Nehemiah 1:4).

Since all three of these are major issues on Yom Kippur, Adonaic Christians consider Yom Kippur therefore to be a time of fasting, prayer, abstaining from physical pleasures, and refraining from any work. We invite other believers to join with us in a time of prayer and confession.

Only those who are physically able should consider fasting – nursing mothers, small children, pregnant women, and various afflicted others are not expected to fast.

Cut back on caffeine a few days before the fast to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and irritability. Any other substances to which you are still addicted (i.e. alcohol, tobacco, sugar, etc) should be gradually reduced in the days prior to Yom Kippur so as to minimize the withdrawals. 

Eat a solid meal before sunset on the day before Yom Kippur. This meal is referred to as the Yom Kippur Feast or Seudah Mafseket ("last meal") feast and the feast is just as important an element as the fast. The meal should be eaten slowly while developing a sense of joy over the anticipated opportunity to set things straight with the Lord. Plan on eating around 4:30 so that you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the meal, clean up, and be ready for Yom Kippur to begin by around 6:00. Don’t use a lot of salt or spices on this meal. You don’t want to stimulate thirst. Eat easily digested food so stomach discomfort doesn't deter you from focusing on what's important. Prepare foods that are filling and high in carbohydrates, such as kreplach (dumplings), rice, and bread.

These hours are also a good time to both forgive and receive forgiveness so that you don’t come to Yahweh Shaphat, asking for forgiveness when you have unforgiven issues left in your heart! 

Abstain from any food or water until nightfall on Yom Kippur, if you are a healthy adult and are not pregnant or nursing. Some people modify the fast by abstaining from food but allowing water. Though you are not eating, still brush your teeth several times a day to avoid the bad breath that can come from fasting. Avoid work and activity. Reduce your physical activity and don’t start talking about food which will only make your hunger worse!

Dress simply and comfortably, do not wear perfume, makeup, or jewelry. Do not watch TV or movies. Do not listen to loud boisterous music. Instead, spend the day quietly reflecting on the sins of the past year. Read Scriptural passages that deal with repentance or perhaps passages where people are confessing their sins. Reflect on the mistakes you have made in the past year, and plan how to avoid them in the future. Make amends with anyone who has wronged you or whom you have offended. Ask forgiveness and let go of old grudges.

Quiet board or card games, walking the dog, slow easy bike rides, reading the Scriptures or good healthy books can help pass the time.

Gather with your friends and family after sundown to break the fast. Say a motzi (blessing) over the bread, and serve light foods that are easy to digest. Bagels and cream cheese are a common meal to break the fast, as well as tea and cake (which is popular in Israel). Bread and honey may also be used, which is symbolic for the sweetness of being forgiven for one's sins. Be careful to not overindulge. If a small, light meal doesn’t upset your stomach too much you should be fine to go back to your normal eating schedule.

Drink small sips at first but then drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water over the following twenty-four hour period so that you can rehydrate your system.

Biblical Support: Its support can be found in Leviticus 16:29-31; 23:27-30; Numbers 29:7; Acts 27:9.