“Sorry is the word we use to show how much we care” Yom Kippur Observance for Children and Families

Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. It is a day on which adults fast and pray. We ask God to forgive us and we apologize to those we have wronged during the past year. At the end of Yom Kippur services, the shofar is sounded one last time and we break the fast with a festive meal.

 

Ways to Celebrate Yom Kippur with Your Child

1. Prior to the holiday, bring food to a local food bank with your child.
2. Allow your child to pick out a toy to give to another child.
3. Let your child pick a bouquet of flowers for a neighbor or grandparent.
4. Attend a children’s service with your child to hear the final shofar blast.
5. If you have started a holiday album, take a Yom Kippur photo of your 
child.

 

Every Yom Kippur afternoon, congregations all over the world read the Book of Jonah… Most people believe that this haftarah is chosen because it models complete repentance….Yet, the book is named for Jonah, the only prophet to be chosen to warn a people outside of Israel of their impending destruction by God for their evil ways. Jonah decides not to accept what he believes is an impossible mission. Eventually, he realizes that it is futile to run and impossible to hide. Ultimately, he fulfills God’s mission to warn the people of Nineveh of their impending doom. But, once his job is done, Jonah is still a very unhappy prophet.  I believe that we read the Book of Jonah on Yom Kippur afternoon to remind us that sometimeswe are Jonah. We run, we are swallowed up, and we are spit out. We have times when the responsibility of the world is thrust upon our shoulders and we have times when we feel very much alone. Sometimes, just like Jonah, we feel that life is too much for us. Excerpted from a D’var Torah by Rabbi Amy Perlin

 

 

Yom Kippur Songs for Young Children

by Sylvia Rouss

It’s Yom Kippur (Frere Jacque)

It’s Yom Kippur, it’s Yom Kippur,

Time for synagogue, time for synagogue,

It’s where we go to pray,

On this holy day,

Of Yom Kippur, of Yom Kippur.

 

I’m a Friend (Mary Had a Little Lamb)

I know how to be a friend, be a friend, be a friend

I know how to be a friend when I play with others.

I’m a friend who tries to share, tries to share, tries to share

I’m a friend who tries to share when I play with others.

I’m a friend who can take turns, can take turns, can take turns

I’m a friend who can take turns when I play with others.

I’m a friend who likes to help, likes to help, likes to help

I’m a friend who likes to help when I play with others.

 

We Apologize (Wheels on the Bus)

When we know we’ve hurt someone, hurt someone, hurt someone

When we know we’ve hurt someone, we apologize.

Sorry is the word we use, word we use, word we use

Sorry is the word we use to show how much we care.

 

Let’s Be Friends (Frere Jacque)

Hold My Hand. Hold my hand.

Let’s be friends. Let’s be friends.

We can run and play,

Together every day,

Let’s be friends. Let’s be friends.