Religious leaders mark Yom Kippur with messages of solidarity

As the Jewish community observes the High Holy Days, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, religious leaders are emphasizing themes of repentance and interfaith solidarity.

Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, released a video message to the Jewish community. In the message, he extended wishes for Yom Kippur and urged Catholics to reject antisemitism while acknowledging the “deep spiritual bonds” between Jews and Catholics.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is observed in 2026 from sunset on September 20 to nightfall on September 21. The holiday is characterized by intensive fasting, prayer, and abstinence as a means of repentance and reconciliation.

In a broader context, the observance of these holy days follows periods of significant tension and tragedy for the Jewish people, including the historical context of the October 7 attacks.