Photo by Chris Wieland.

In previous years, we’ve highlighted interesting places for those observing Yom Kippur to get their pre-fast meal (2008) and where to find services that don’t require tickets (2009). Yom Kippur posting took a year off for 2010; there’s only so many new options for praying every year.

But, there is a new last-minute option for 2011. With the convergence of the Day of Atonement, which begins tonight, and the Occupy movement’s arrival in D.C., there will be a Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei Service at Occupy DC in McPherson Square at 6 p.m. Thrown together only this morning — though you would barely be able to tell by the extensive notes outlined on the Facebook event page — over 50 people are signed up to ask God for forgiveness in the square.

The narrative ties the liturgical asking of forgiveness with the active ethos of the protest. “Thus rather than spending the holiday safe and warm in our cozy synagogues thinking abstractly about human suffering,” suggests the call to prayer, “perhaps we should truly afflict ourselves and undertake the fast of Isaiah, by joining the demonstrators in McPherson Square (15th and K NW), and holding our Yom Kippur services there amongst the oppressed, hungry, poor and naked.” The page asks participants to bring their own prayer books, suggests ways for telling passers by they don’t wish to be photographed while praying, and warns of the unlikely possibility of arrest.

There’s no official pre-fast meal though. So, in the spirit of DCist’s past Yom Kippur coverage, allow me to pass on some recommendations on where to feast before the fast. A pizza and pasta carboload at Potenza Bakery? Or perhaps an order of Pad Thai (hold the shrimp) at Bangkok One? Gmar chatima tova!