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Enjoy this beautiful poem of self-forgiveness by Joanne Fink

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Enjoy this beautiful poem of self-forgiveness by Joanne Fink

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Tashlich-A Guided Meditation to soothe the soul

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Tashlich-A Guided Meditation to soothe the soul

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Take 9 minutes to center yourself for the holidays.

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Wash My Soul Tashlich Ceremony | Passover Haggadah by Custom & Craft

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Find a body of water and cast your sins away with this soul-fueled Tashlich ceremony

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It may seem odd to think about death as marking a new beginning.  This is a season of remembrance, however.  We will say Yizkor on Yom Kippur.  We cannot know what death implies for ourselves.  But we can be sure that the deaths of our parents marks a new beginning for those of us who are adults with children.  We no longer have our parents to serve as our appreciative audience and cheering section.  Instead, we must carry on and play that role for our own children—and find and retain ways to find meaning and purpose for ourselves absent those which providing nacchas for our parents once did.  A new beginning—and a challenging one.

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For me a new beginning is a gift I give to myself at various times, but especially around the High Holidays.  I give myself the chance to shed past mistakes I have made or things I did that I regret or wish I’d done differently and to start afresh.  And I try not to expect myself to be perfect going forward but to give myself credit for trying to do better in the future.”

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The High holidays allow me to let my guard down.  I’m more vulnerable than any other time of the year.  Asking Hashem, friends and family for forgiveness for all the things I’ve done poorly comes easier.  Making a commitment to self-improvement comes easier.  It’s making all that stick once the holidays are over that’s my challenge .”

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Music to soothe and enrich during the holidays

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Music to soothe and enrich during the holidays

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Most of the music we associate with the High Holidays ( Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur) is heard in the synagogue. Different than some of our other more home-based celebrations (such as Sukkot in an outdoor sukkah, Hanukkah gathered around our candles in the home, Passover seated at an overflowing holiday table), the High Holidays High Holidays יָמִים נוֹרָאִים Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur lead us toward reflection and introspection as individuals, while in the embrace of a community moving through our sacred time together. Because of that, we do not have a lot of High Holidays musical settings designed for the home, as most are sacred liturgical melodies that call to mind perhaps a history or memory of the past, or call us to look to the future and the world we wish to build.

To get us in the spirit of entering the New Year, though, we have some music for you. Whether you listen to these songs along or with others, may they lead you to thoughts of turning our hearts toward the rich opportunities the New Year brings, or perhaps a moment to reflect on the times we've "missed the mark" and not been our best selves. Shanah tovah u'metukah, a sweet and good year to you!

Traditional High Holiday Music Selections

High Holiday Music for Families with Young Children

Contemporary Music to Welcome the New Year
Want more? For a particularly unique High Holidays playlist, check out Rabbi Alex Kress's RAPentance "praylist."

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Music to Listen to During the High Holidays

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Most of the music we associate with the High Holidays ( Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur) is heard in the synagogue.

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Our family lost close family members to death over the past year. At times like this it really makes you think of treasuring every moment we have on earth, to deepen the relationships to our existing family and friends.  I need to be more thankful and appreciative for all the people I do have.”

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As memories of the summer begin to fade away with the cooling air, and attempts to prolong the illusion of frivolity fail, it is time to come home and address all those matters that matter, that we had let slip away.  Responsibilities left dangling need to be picked up again, and it is time to look inside and take stock of the last twelve months.  Are we satisfied with what we’ve done?  Can we do better?  Are we ashamed?  Will we find the strength to do better?”

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I see life as a cycle so no beginning or end. However within that loop are many transitions and opportunities to take on challenges , overcome obstacles, delve deeper, learn and grow. Living each day as a new day, weighing heavily on forgiveness, tolerance and giving everyone ( including myself) the benefit of the doubt helps me to stay open and optimistic about the future.”

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As I approach these High Holidays, I think about changes that approach as I get older and reach a new stage in my life: married children, extended family, hopefully grandchildren,   I take stock of where I am and things I still hope to accomplish.   I am grateful for what God has given me but feel I have more to do.  Do I have the courage to move in new directions?  Honestly I really don’t know.

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It feels good to be lost in the right direction. Not all positive change feels positive in the beginning. The best view comes after the hardest climb

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New beginnings start with stopping the endless stream of self-recriminations.  How can I expect others to allow me to have a fresh start, if I myself won’t let go of the past?  I have a choice with every day, every hour, every minute, as to what I’m going to put my energy into.  If I spend it reliving and regretting past events, past decisions and past actions, there is no time or energy for the new.  So new beginnings entail learning the lessons from the past, and taking those lessons – not the past – into a new day.

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“When I think of a “new beginning” at this point in my life – it is more about trying harder in my relationships with others, especially family and friends.  It is investing time and energy together with patience, love and understanding.  It is not that we do not know what to do – it is the opportunity to start again and do it better, recognizing we will not always succeed.  It is about the effort and the intent – that is the newness I seek.  With knowing that you did all you could – the reward will be the effort.  Zchar mitzvah – mitzvah”.

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New beginnings start with stopping the endless stream of self-recriminations.  How can I expect others to allow me to have a fresh start, if I myself won’t let go of the past?  I have a choice with every day, every hour, every minute, as to what I’m going to put my energy into.  If I spend it reliving and regretting past events, past decisions and past actions, there is no time or energy for the new.  So new beginnings entail learning the lessons from the past, and taking those lessons – not the past – into a new day

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On this sacred day
when the old year slips away
we prepare to meet the year ahead,
we stand together around this pool of water
our hands holding small pieces of paper, bird seed, bread crumbs
symbols of our shortcomings and regrets.
Many are the regrets and sorrows
that weigh upon our souls,
let us cast them off into the warm waters
so we may begin anew.
Great is our regret
for the harsh words we have spoken,
the tender words we left unsaid,
for the anger we let smolder,
the compassion we withheld,
for our greed and jealousy,
our lack of generosity.

for all that we could have done,
all that we have left undone.
Many are the regrets and sorrows
that weigh upon our souls,
let us cast them into the warm waters
so we can strive to become
all that we were meant to be.
Great is our remorse
for the energy we spent fighting
instead of trying to make amends,
for the times we could have lent a hand
instead of keeping our hands by our sides,
for the times we looked away from those near and far
who need our help and caring,
when we turned away from the places in the world
in need of repairing.
Many are the regrets and sorrows
that weigh upon our hearts and souls,
let us cast them into the warm waters
so we can begin to build bridges
connecting us one to another.

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My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

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Age brings perspective, and during the days between Rosh Hashsanah and Yom Kippur, we engage in introspection and heshbon hanefesh, taking an accounting of our souls in preparation for being written in the Book of Life for good. While we can and certainly should commit to changing negative habits and improving our actions in the coming year, we can also use this time to cast off things that weigh us down, furniture, mementoes, things that might be useful “someday,” or fall under the category of, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Hopefully, these items have served their purpose; they’ve been used and loved, but now are taking up valuable space in our homes and hearts. Thank them and let them go.

As much as possible, may we be blessed to hold onto what serves us well, and fill the empty spaces with blessing.