Yom Kippur Brings Israel Activity to Halt

At sundown today, Jews throughout Israel began observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year that brings everyday life in the country to a complete halt.

On Yom Kippur, Hebrew for “Day of Atonement,” most observant Jews worldwide fast and pray, asking forgiveness for their sins of the past year while abstaining from normal activities.

Israelis crowded stores for last-minute shopping and hurried home early from their jobs for the start of the holy day at 5:04 p.m., when the Yom Kippur fast begins.

All public transportation stopped running by 3 p.m. Ben-Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv closed at midday and was scheduled to reopen at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday when the holiday ends.

Road travel was discouraged during the national holiday because some religious Jews throw stones at motorists who violate a religious ban on driving.

Officials appealed to the public not to stone ambulances and other emergency vehicles. By mid-afternoon, the sun-drenched streets of Jewish West Jerusalem were deserted.

At 2:20 p.m. Israeli radio and television stations, which are all state-run, went off the air, and Israeli troops closed roads from the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Despite the closing of almost all stores and businesses, most of the armed forces remained on duty. An army spokesman said holiday leaves were granted to as many soldiers as possible.