Israel Comes to Standstill at Yom Kippur*

The Associated Press
Friday, September 21, 2007; 1:46 PM

JERUSALEM -- Israel came to a virtual standstill at sundown Friday as
Jews across the country began observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day of
their calendar.

Stores closed early and the airwaves were filled with liturgical Hebrew
music leading up to the contemplative Day of Atonement, when tradition
says divine judgment of Jews is sealed and their fate is decided for the
coming year.

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Jews across the world will fast and pray in synagogues as they seek
forgiveness for their actions in the past year. Ahead of the holiday,
religious Jews often ask their acquaintances to forgive them for any
offense they might have committed.

Even though most Israelis aren't Orthodox, most fast on Yom Kippur. The
holiday is the only day of the year when all Israeli radio and TV
broadcasts go off the air. While business continues as usual in Arab
towns, shops and cafes in Jewish cities are closed, planes at the
airport are grounded, and all public transportation is suspended.

With rare exceptions, cars disappear and the country's roads and
highways become eerily empty, used mainly by children on bicycles taking
advantage of a rare opportunity to ride in the middle of the street.
Because no one drives, pregnant women going into labor call ambulances
to get to the hospital.

Fearing attacks by militants, the Israeli military clamped a closure on
the West Bank on Friday for the duration of the holiday. The closure,
which keeps Palestinians from entering Israel, blocked thousands of
Palestinians from reaching Jerusalem for Friday prayers during the
Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Scuffles were reported at checkpoints around Jerusalem, but no serious
violence.

Yom Kippur will end at sundown Saturday in each synagogue with a blast
on the shofar, the traditional Jewish ram's horn.