Why Wear White on Yom Kippur?

• Some say we wear white to be like the angels. On Yom Kippur we recognize the light inside us, and so we reach for more of the same – we symbolize the hope to cleanse that light by wearing the color of light.

• We wear white to remember our mortality: Traditionally, Jews are buried in simple , white, cotton clothing that is fully biodegradable and makes no distinctions between rich and poor.

Why not wear leather?

• We avoid wearing leather; we do not want to benefit on this day from the death of any living creature.

Why wear a prayer shawl?

• Wearing a prayer shawl is commanded for morning prayer, not evening prayer. (The exceptions to this rule are for those called to Torah at an evening service or for prayer leaders.) So why do we wear a tallit during Kol Nidre? Because the garment reminds us of the wings of God enfolding us in the light of the Divine. Prayer shawls are often white. And a tallit also reminds us of our mortality, as Jews are traditionally buried with their tallit.

I look forward to seeing you all on the Day of At-One-Ment! May we all be moved to the teshuva we long for.