Yom Kippur

Excessive honking of horns and a steady flow of traffic is the norm here in Jerusalem, so it was incredible on Yom Kippur to experience the city in silence. (okay, not counting the Muslim Quarter, but still....)

There were no cars on the streets except police (unfortunately, it is also a day of high alert since the Yom Kippur War in 1973). It is truly amazing. Imagine if DC shut down for the day?

Empty streets...

The place to be was the Kotel (Western Wall). And the color to wear was white (symbolizing purity). Here is a group on their way to the Old City...

The Kotel (Western Wall) on Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the most solemn of the Jewish Holidays. Observances include fasting, praying and repentence of sins. (read Leviticus 16 for its origins)