Yom Kippur (a.k.a. Day of Atonement) wraps up the timeframe on the Jewish calendar known as the Days of Awe, which focuses on prayer and atonement for the failings of the previous year so the new year can begin with a clean slate. This date includes a 25-hour fast, and if you're not sure how to break your fast, we have some ideas for you.

If you’re an Ashkenazi Jew (your lineage traces to Eastern and Central Europe), you’re probably going to break your Yom Kippur fast with a big, fat bagel stuffed with cream cheese and some type of smoked fish. This is a classic way to break the fast for American Jews, most of whom, like the rest of the world's population, are Ashkenazi.

A bagel loaded all the fixings — scallions, cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, capers, and smoked fish — is a delightful indulgence after a full day of fasting, but an empty stomach may not appreciate a large, fatty starch bomb. To gently ease into breaking your fast, start with a glass of water or tea, then try moving on to a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup.