WORCESTER, Mass. - Wednesday marked Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar.

The holiday is when the Jewish community fasts for 24 hours and asks for forgiveness for the wrongs they've committed during the year. It marks the end of the 'Days of Awe,' a 10-day period beginning on Rosh Hashanah, which celebrates the Jewish New Year.

Locally, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts Steven Schimmel said this year is special because they're able to be back together in person after the pandemic.

"It’s wonderful to be able to see everyone again, to get family back together, to see community members who we haven't seen in a long time and to be able to take part in this as a community which is part of what being Jewish is all about,” Schimmel said.

“We pray together, we pray in group and being part of that is really special and meaningful. It's a great way to begin the New Year and to begin anew. Reflecting and vowing to ourselves that we'll do better this year."

This year Yom Kippur began at sundown Tuesday and ended at nightfall Wednesday.