The solemn Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which annually sees Israeli life grind to a halt, will begin on Sunday in a nation already under a sweeping coronavirus lockdown. But he urged people to avoid going into synagogues on Yom Kippur and to pray outdoors. Mr Netanyahu has also called for an end to public demonstrations against him, saying they are a public health risk. But he says the closure of synagogues during Yom Kippur is still “very painful for most Israelis,” even those who do not attend regularly. “It’s quite dramatic for Israelis, for all types of Israelis, secular and observant.”In Israel, the holiday is also associated with the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur.

Source: Irish Independent September 27, 2020 09:56 UTC