Yom Kippur is just a few days away, and some of the ways we observe are obvious: the fast, synagogue, practicing teshuvah, or repentance.
But if those don’t work for you, or you’d like to add some new rituals to the mix this year, we have some ideas. We encourage you to pick and choose and layer these options in whatever ways work best for you (and your family and friends!). There’s no one size fits all for Judaism and ritual practices, and the most important thing is to find a way to observe one of the holiest days of the Jewish year that is meaningful to you.
If you’re looking for even more ways to make the most out of Yom Kippur, we can help with that, too. We created Kveller’s Guide to Yom Kippur, an 18-page mini magazine, just for you. This guide is a blueprint to a better Yom Kippur, whether you’ve observed it your whole life or this is your first time. It includes a run-down of what to expect at synagogue, tips on what to eat before and after the fast, a refresher on blessings and rituals, thoughtful prompts to set intentions for the new year and kid-friendly ideas. (Did we mention it’s free, and designed in a beautiful, easy to read format?)
Click here to download Kveller’s Guide to Yom Kippur, and read on for the five new Yom Kippur rituals we think you should try this year, excerpted from our guide.
Journal
Our sister site Hey Alma created a Days of Awe journal filled with writing prompts, encouragement and Jewish quotes (ranging from Hillel to Seinfeld) to do during the sacred 10-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. You could also just free write in a notebook. (Yes, we have reflection prompts for you at the end of this guide.) The important part is the introspection, no matter how you approach it.
Write yourself a letter
Similar to journaling, but different: Here, we suggest you take stock of your past year, think about teshuvah and reflect on what you’d like to do differently next year (and what you want to keep doing, too). When you’re done, seal the letter in an envelope and put it somewhere safe to read next year. Future you is excited to hear what you have to say!
Give tzedakah
As much as Yom Kippur is a day to reflect and make amends for things that went wrong over the last year, it can also be a time to commit to what you’d like to do right in the coming year. Choose one or two causes or organizations that feel meaningful to you and commit to materially supporting them with tzedakah.
Take a nature walk
This doesn’t have to be a major hike. It doesn’t even have to be a walk if you’d rather sit still. But it’s undeniable that getting out into nature and letting your body just be can have a profound effect. Try taking some intentional time in the great outdoors this Yom Kippur and see what you find inside your soul. Maybe you’ll connect to your Judaism in a different way.
Create art
All the introspection of Yom Kippur can lead to beautiful creative projects. You can keep this simple — a line drawing on a piece of scrap paper, a sidewalk mural with colorful chalk — or make it more elaborate — think water colors, stamps, collage… the sky’s the limit. If you have family or friends who might like to create with you, an art project is a great way to connect (especially if you have kids who may need help understanding the importance of the day!).
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