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Yom Kippur Break Fast

There are two meals associated with Yom Kippur: the pre-fast meal and the break-fast meal (obviously, for the duration of the fasting holiday, no food or drink is allowed). The pre-fast meal is known as seudah ha-mafaseket (literally, “meal of separation” or “concluding meal”).

Some traditional recipe choices for the meal include: ricekreplach (stuffed dumplings), challah (dipped in honey, as Yom Kippur occurs 10 days after Rosh Hashanah), chicken, or fish. Meals usually should be prepared with minimum salt, as this could cause dehydration during the fast. It is important to drink plenty of water, of course.

The break-fast meal usually consists of hi-carb dairy foods, and sometimes brunch-style recipes like sweet kugel (noodle pudding), bagels, quiches, soufflés, eggs, cheese, etc. Some families indulge in heavier traditional meals with soup and brisket.

The recipes below are great for breaking the Yom Kippur fast, with a variety of options to suit any of your break fast traditions.