Yom Kippur

Reverse

Engraving upon an Ark of the Covenant of the 14th century. On either side of the ark, a shofar. Hebrew inscription: "forgive a holy people on this sacred day".

Translation: forgive a holy people on this sacred day

Designer: Ruben Nutels

Edge

Plain. State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL' in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left and serial number. "Silver 935" in Hebrew and English

Comment

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is unique in its holiness and purpose: forgiveness of each individual and of the Jewish people for their sins. This is the culmination of the Ten Days of Repentance which begin with Rosh Hashana (the New Year). This is the only day during which worshippers in the synagogue wrap themselves in the prayer shawl for evening as well as morning prayer. The Torah declares that on Yom Kippur all sins will be forgiven (Leviticus 16:30), our Sages interpreted that only those sins made by man against the Lord will be pardoned, while those made against a fellow man will be forgiven only upon direct reconciliation. The closing prayer concludes with the blowing of the Shofar, a ram's horn.