The Ten Days: The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur are devoted to extra emphasis towards improving one’s relationship with Hashem. Selichos and Ovinu Malkeinu are recited every day and special additions are added into the Shemoneh Esreh. One should try to increase his performance of mitzvos, especially charity.
Erev Yom Kippur: The day preceding Yom Kippur takes on a festive note. During the morning service tachanun, lamnatzeach and mizmor l’sodah are not recited. One fulfills a mitzvah by eating on the afternoon before Yom Kippur. It is customary to eat two festive meals, the second meal eaten after Mincha. One is not allowed to fast. One should be careful to finish eating well before sunset in order to be sure that he does not eat after Yom Kippur begins.
Viduy is recited at Mincha. When saying viduy, one may not lean on anything so strongly that he would fall if it were removed. It is appropriate to immerse oneself in a mikvah early in the afternoon before Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur: On Yom Kippur we refrain from five activities;
- eating and drinking;
- anointing; washing and bathing;
- wearing leather shoes;
- marital relations
. The forbidden activities of Shabbos are also prohibited on Yom Kippur.
One may not eat or drink anything on Yom Kippur. However, people suffering from certain ailments may be allowed to eat under limited circumstances. This halacha may apply to people with a heart condition, a woman who just gave birth, or someone who underwent surgery to list a few examples. One who is ill should consult a competent halachic authority to determine if he must eat and how to go about it. Many medicines such as a bitter pill, are not in the halachic category of food or drink and one should consult a halachic authority to determine the status of any medicine that he thinks he may have to take.
One may not wash unless he is removing dirt. Therefore one may wash his hands after relieving himself. One may also wash his hands upon waking, as preparation for prayer, or before the blessings of the Cohein. However,even in these instances, one may only wash up to the knuckles.
