Also authored by Baruch Emanuel Erdstein

On  Yom Kippur, the Jewish People ascend to a spiritual level normally not accessible during the rest of the year. So sublime is our level of sanctity on Yom Kippur that rabbinic literature likens us to angels on this holy day. Angels (or the more literal Hebrew translation, "[supernal] messengers") are from a lofty spiritual plane beyond free-choice, merit and sin, right and wrong; it is perhaps for this reason that, metaphorically, angels are said to "wear white garments", whose color is the source of all other colors of the rainbow - before its refraction into the realities of multiplicity and diffusion. Thus white, the color of supernal unity, the color of the garments of the angels, is the traditional color of clothing for most Jews on Yom Kippur, the holiest of our holy days; on this day, like angels, we too do not eat or drink, and are immersed in spiritual matters.

" ...on this day we have the unique ability to relate to G-d, from our souls' essence to G-d's Essence."

According to Jewish mysticism, white is the color associated with G-d's Essence. Just as white in its essential state has not yet been dyed to any other specific color, so too, G-d, at His Essence, is not expressing Himself through any of His lower attributes. Representing G-d's Essence, white relates to Yom Kippur, since on this day we have the unique ability to relate to G-d, from our souls' essence to G-d's Essence.

Also, on Yom Kippur, we pray to G-d that "our sins should be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18), and in keeping with this theme we present ourselves as worthy of such a state before the Heavenly Court.

Many married men have a tradition to wear specifically a "kittel", a thin white robe with a belt. One reason is that a kittel reminds us of the white shrouds in which a dead person is dressed for burial. This instills within us a sense of the fleeting nature of our earthly existence and a deep sense of humility, inspiring us to sincerely repent.

In addition, the color white corresponds to the level of Supernal Compassion, a level that supercedes all of the created worlds, physical and spiritual. Certainly, Yom Kippur is a time when we seek G-d's compassion, as we pray that He seal us for a good and sweet new year.

[In many communities, women do not specifically wear white on Yom Kippur. In some communities, men wear the white kittel also on Rosh Hashana, and also for Hoshana Rabba for the lengthy morning prayers, and some do also for the Seder night(s) of Passover.]

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