Repentance
VIVIAN
Seven days later, after the figurative third day of new year's, it was the Day of Atonement. In class, our teachers focused heavily on this day, on its meaning and its laws, so I knew well that it was a day in which it prohibited to eat or drink, wear leather, bathe, put on makeup, creams, or oils, or "make use of a bed", a euphemism for something other than sleep. Although the laws of the Sabbath were many and complex and applied to the Day of Atonement as well, its unique laws were few and simple enough that I decided to try and practice them.
Since they said that white symbolizes purity, and since it was a custom to wear white on the holiday, I prepared matching white dresses for Rebecca and me. For Jacob I sewed together a thin white robe to wear over his clothing, called a kitel. He already had one, but I wanted him to wear one that was made by me. On Friday afternoon I ate with them the last meal before the fast, then we headed to the synagogue together.