Jews worldwide are solemnly observing Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, by abstaining from work and fasting on what is considered the holiest day of the year.

The Jewish High Holy Days for the Hebrew year 5783, which began Sept. 25 with the New Year observance of Rosh Hashanah, conclude tonight at the end of Yom Kippur.

The High Holy Days are a time of prayer, reflection, repentance and atonement, with an emphasis on living a life pleasing to God. A period of 24-hour fasting began at sunset Tuesday night.

Jewish tradition uses the image of a Book of Life to describe the meaning of the holy days. God writes names in the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment, and the book is sealed on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur includes a service of remembrance, with a somber reading of the names of those who have died in the past year.