BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Judaism Preparing spiritually for the High Holidays

It's Rosh Chodesh Elul, and thus the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are right around the corner. This is the time of year when we take stock, do a personal hishbon haNefesh or accounting of the soul and see how we can be better in the year to come. It is also the time to do t'shuvah, repentance, and to reconcile with those who may have hurt us in the past year, as well as ask forgiveness from those whom we have ourselves wronged. In what ways are you readying yourself, spiritually and otherwise for the High Holidays?

Hi Lauren

The Jewish day school my children attended closed at the end of last year. Some of the families went to one of the other Jewish day schools (reform, orthodox and montessori) and others went to public school. The one thing we all talked about missing was the community - and our children learning and celebrating together.

So, I am gathering as many of those families for a pre-Rosh Hashanah learning/celebrating/crafting afternoon. We did it one other time right after school let out, and it was a big success.

I'm going to have the children braid their own round challot; we'll do some text learning and some crafts (a paper mache apple for hopes, a circle of kindness craft to inspire young children to do mitzvot, a honey tasting, etc.

I think I'll have my children start blowing the shofar each morning.

I'd love to hear what adults are doing for themselves.... I could use some inspiration for myself.