Israel, Sep 28 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Today is the Jewish people Day of Atonement. According to the Jewish religion, on this day each and every person is tried before God in the fair and majestic court. The holy book is opened and all one’s rights are measured against one’s sins – determining whether one lives or dies, according to our deeds.

The Jewish religion perceives god as a very generous and benevolent god. The Jewish belief says that God forgives all sins made against him but god shall not forgive any sin made against another fellow human being. Therefore the people must sincerely ask for forgiveness from anyone who might have been hurt by their deeds, either knowingly or unknowingly.

Although the Day of Atonement is marked as a day of fasting (Jews undertake a 25-hour fast), it is not at all a day of mourning but rather a festive holiday. A holiday in which people take time away from their materialistic needs and ponder about their way in life – where are they going to and how are they getting there? What have they achieved so far, in life and the course that they are taking in life?

The Christian Day of Atonement is an English translation of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. The Bible calls the day Yom Hakippurim (Hebrew, “Day of the Atonements”). The day is commemorated with a 25-hour fast by traditional Jews, but normally a 24-hour fast by some Christians who do observe it.