Yom Kippur is a day to practice self-denial, which is executed through fasting, prayer and repentance. In preparation for Yom Kippur, it has become customary for Jews to seek forgiveness from friends and relatives they may have wronged throughout the year.

Yom Kippur also is seen as a time to honor loved ones of blessed memory. At Temple Emanu-El, relatives of members of the congregation are memorialized by reading their names during the Yom Kippur memorial service.

Yom Kippur eve and day services from the Main Sanctuary (Fifth Avenue at 65th Street) may be heard via live audio stream on the Emanu-El website, through the Emanu-El audio player after completion of the live service, or as podcasts. (MP3 files are available for one week after the service.) Rabbi Posner, Cantor Corrsin and Rabbinic Intern Hannah Goldstein will officiate in the Main Sanctuary at the evening service and in the Lowenstein Sanctuary at the morning service; Rabbis Ehrlich and Zeidman and Cantorial Intern David Mintz will officiate in the Lowenstein Sanctuary at the evening service and in the Main Sanctuary at the morning service. Rabbi Posner, Cantor Corrsin and Hannah Goldstein will officiate in the Main Sanctuary at the afternoon/memorial/concluding service; Rabbi Ehrlich, Rabbi Zeidman and David Mintz will officiate in the Lowenstein Sanctuary.