Making Vidui

Materials: Vidui sheet Pens/pencils Markers, crayons, etc

Vidui means “confession” and is one of the most important parts of . This is the time when we are supposed to share with the things that we have done over the past year that weren’t so great, say we are sorry and ask for forgiveness.

One of the parts of Vidui that is found in many High Holiday prayerbooks (called machzor) is an acrostic (a poem with each word or line starting with consecutive letters of the alphabet or sometimes the first letter of each work or line spells out another word) known as Ashamnu, Bagadnu and it lists a bunch of different sins using each letter of the .

The sins listed in the Ashamnu, Bagadnu poem don’t necessarily match what we think we need to atone (i.e. say sorry) for. This is an opportunity to write your own Vidui that shows the things you are actually sorry for individually or as a family. The idea is to make your own acrostic so try and fill in as many letters as possible. If you don’t feel like you have things that fit a letter, you can put in something you think everyone should say sorry for (gossiping is usually an easy example).

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2 “TOSS”-LICH

A common tradition during the Aseret Yemei Teshuvah (the 10 Days of from through Yom Kippur) is Tashlich. This custom involves throwing bread crumbs into a body of water (ideally running water like a stream or a river). The bread crumbs are meant to represent our sins, and throwing away the bread crumbs is meant to represent throwing away our sins. Usually, Tashlich is preformed during the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah but can be done at any point during the 10 days. Yom Kippur is the day that we complete the 10-day period during which we atone for our sins. We focus ourselves on doing teshuvah and building up our spiritual selves at the expense of our physical selves. Tradition teaches us that we have five prohibitions with which to afflict ourselves on Yom Kippur. Two of these are eating and drinking (which counts as one; this is why we fast on Yom Kippur) and wearing sandals. Today, the prohibition against wearing sandals is generally considered to be referring to leather shoes.

The Activity

Think of two things in your life you would like to “throw away” for the new year. (Examples might include using mean language, not respecting family and friends, and neglecting to be careful about respecting people’s personal space.)

Mention one thing that you want to “throw away” for the new year as you kick off one of your shoes. It is OK if you say the same thing that someone else said.

After you kick off one shoe, you should leave your kicked shoes where the shoes land and sit down.

You can kick off a second shoe (and mention a second thing you want to throw away) if you want to.

Pick up a shoe that is not your own.

Find the person who’s shoe you picked up and share with each other how and why you picked what to throw away.

Each pair should share with the others (if any) what was discussed.

3 Book of Life

Materials: • Construction paper • Crayons, Markers, etc • Hole Puncher • Yarn or Twine

One of the ideas/images that we hear about a lot on Yom Kippur is the Book of Life. One of the ways people think about the Book of Life is that it is a big, imaginary book where God writes down all of our actions: good and bad. Each year at Yom Kippur we have the chance to atone (that means to say sorry) for any not-so-nice things we have done and get all that stuff erased out of the book. We also get to think about how we want to be better and what kinds of good things we want to do in the year to come. And we can imagine that God writes down all of the good things we want to do, so that next year God can check it out and see how we did. So you can make your own Book of Life. On each page of it you can write (or draw) something good you want to do this year. These can be outside things (I want to practice soccer) but try to focus on inside things (I want to be nicer). You should try to do 12 pages, one for each month. You can decorate your pages and cover however you would like.

• Each person should get 4 pieces of paper • The 4 pieces should be folded in half • Punch 2 holes through the folded end of the papers • Tie string/twine/yarn into bows through each hole in such a way that the pages can be turned • Using crayons, markers, etc., decorate the cover and fill the pages with whatever good things you want to do this year. As stated above, try to focus on “inside” things (like being nice, helping, etc.) but whatever you come up with is fine.

4 High Holiday Trivia Questions

1. This is the Hebrew word for “repentance” and also can mean “return” 2. This is what is called out for the final, extra long sounding of the . 3. This phrase, meaning “Our Father, Our King” is part of a song that is heard several times during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

4. This is the Hebrew term for the High Holiday prayerbook 5. When we toss bread into the water as a symbolic way of getting rid of our sins. 6. The person who calls out the different shofar calls is referred to as the...? 7. This is one of the terms used to describe the ten day period beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, it means “the ”

8. 9. These three things are thought to be central to being forgiven by God for any wrongdoing of the past year.

10. This is the ram’s horn that we blow on Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur

11. A Hebrew word for “sin” 12. A Hebrew word for “confession” 13. The shofar call with nine staccato notes 14. A common greeting at this time of year that means “happy new year” (literally it means “for a good year”)

15. The Day of Atonement 16. The evening service before Yom Kippur 17. The shofar call with one medium length note 18. One of the terms used to describe the ten day period beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, it means “Days of Awe”

19. A bread that is usually braided and eaten on Shabbat, during the High Holidays it tends to be round

20. The Book of Life 21. One of the names for Rosh Hashanah, it means “Day of Noise/Blasts” 22. A greeting heard most often during Yom Kippur, it means “may you finish with a good seal” 23. This is the month where we find Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Strangely, it is actually the seventh month according to the Torah.

5 24. The concluding service for Yom Kippur 25. This is the Haftarah portion (from the books of the prophets) that is traditionally read during Yom Kippur afternoon. It involves a whale.

26. The shofar call with three “broken” notes 27. One of the names for Rosh Hashanah, it means “Day of Remembering” 28. The Jewish New Year 29. The month leading up to Rosh Hashanah, traditionally it is viewed as a time of introspection and deep thinking

30. The service during Yom Kippur where we remember loved ones who are no longer with us. The word means “memory.”

31. One of the names for Rosh Hashanah, it means “Day of Judgment”

6 High Holiday Trivia Answers

1. T’shuvah 2. Tekiah Gedolah 3. 4. Machzor 5. Tashlich 6. Makri 7. Aseret Y’mei Teshuvah 8. Tapuchim u’D’vash 9. Teshuvah, Tefilah, 10. Shofar 11. Cheit 12. Vidui 13. Teruah 14. L’shanah tovah 15. Yom Kippur 16. 17. Tekiah 18. Yamim Nora’im 19. Challah 20. Sefer Ha’chayim 21. Yom Teruah 22. G’mar Chatimah Tovah 23. Tishri (pronounced “tishrei”) 24. N’ilah 25. Yonah (Jonah) 26. Shevarim 27. Yom Ha’Zikaron 28. Rosh Hashanah 29. 30. Yizkor 31. Yom Ha’Din

7 Jump the Sounds of the Shofar

Materials: Space for jumping Shofar (or reasonable impersonation of a shofar)

1. Line up with a little space between each person

2. Introduce the different shofar calls, one at a time, and explain the jump that goes with each one (all jumps should be moving forward). o Tekiah . One medium length note on the shofar . One regular jump o Shevarim . Three consecutive short-medium notes (sometimes described as three “broken” notes . Three jumps, one right after the other o Teruah . Nine staccato (very short) notes . Nine quick hops o Tekiah Gedolah . One note held for as long as possible . The biggest jump possible 3. Once everyone has a sense for each of the sounds, go through the ‘traditional’ shofar call: o Tekiah o Shevarim-Teruah (combining the two together) o Tekiah o Tekiah o Shevarim o Tekiah o Tekiah o Teruah o Tekiah Gedolah 4. There are a couple of games on this theme that could be played o Shofar Says (like Simon Says) . Have the participants lined up, then call out the different terms in random order and see who gets it; if someone messes up, then that person is out for that round until only one person is left (or people get bored). o Shofar Scramble . Essentially this is a race. Participants are lined up and the leader calls out different shofar calls. The participants jump the appropriate jump but with the goal of trying to get to the ‘finish line’ first. This could also be done in a relay race style

8 The wrong way to Nineveh (The story of Jonah)

CAST: Narrator, Jonah, God, 5 sailors

ACT 1: NO SLEEP ‘TILL TARSHISH

Narrator (Narr): There once was a man called Jonah. One day God spoke to Jonah.

God: Jonah! The people of Nineveh are being very selfish. I don't like it. Go to Nineveh and tell the people there to smarten up. Or else!

Narr: So Jonah did what any of us would do in a difficult situation. He went to the seaside and hopped on the first boat going completely the other direction. But Jonah should have known better. When you're dealing with God, you can run, but you can't hide. God sent a nasty storm which tossed around badly the ship Jonah was on. The sailors were pretty scared.

Sailors: 1. Oh my gosh!

2. This is awful!

3. The worst storm ever!

4. Throw everything overboard so we don't sink!

5. Hey, where's that guy, you know the guy...

Narr: The captain found Jonah taking a snooze below decks and made him come up and talk to all the sailors. The sailors felt God had sent the storm because God was unhappy with Jonah. They asked Jonah what they should do to make God happy and get the storm to stop.

Jonah: You'll just have to throw me overboard. It’s the only way.

Narr: The sailors were sad about this idea. They tried throwing other things off the ship instead. But the storm didn't stop. So they had to throw Jonah into the sea anyway. So they did.

9 [Sailors pretend to throw Jonah overboard.]

Narr: But God sent a big fish that gulped Jonah right down into its tummy. Jonah was safe down there (although he didn't like the rotten fish smell) for a few days. While he was in the fish's tummy with not much else to do, Jonah made up this little prayer:

Jonah: Hey there God. I'm sorry I ran away from you. I know I can always talk to you in my prayers, and you will hear me. Thanks.

Narr: Right then, the fish opened its mouth and spat Jonah back out onto dry land.

ACT 2: IN THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Narr: As you might expect, God spoke to Jonah again

God: Okay now Jonah. This time do what I tell you. Get up and go to Nineveh, and tell the people of that city to smarten up and behave. Or else.

Narr: This time Jonah did as he was told and went to Nineveh. It was a long way. When he got there, he did what he was told.

Jonah: Hey all you people from Nineveh! In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed if you don't all smarten up!

Narr: It worked. The people of Nineveh said they were sorry. Even the sheep and cows and dogs and cats of that city looked sorry to God. When God saw all this, God decided not to destroy the city after all. But this new decision made Jonah really mad. He went and sat outside the city and stayed in a really bad mood.

[Jonah goes and sits down under an imaginary plant]

10 Narr: God continued to look after Jonah. God made a big plant grow up over him. It was kind of like a pumpkin plant, with great wide shady leaves like umbrellas. Jonah like it and felt quite comfy and safe in the shade of the plant God sent. But the next morning, God sent along a worm. This worm chewed up the plant and killed it. The day became hot, and Jonah thought he would die from the heat without the shade of his friend, the green plant.

Jonah: I'm so sad. My friend, Mr. Green Plant, is gone.

Narr: Then God gave Jonah a serious talking to. God told him he should smarten up. The way Jonah felt about the plant was sort of like how God felt about all the people of Nineveh. And all the animals too. God liked them all very much. If they all showed how sorry they were, God was happy. The people of Nineveh had learned the lesson God wanted them to learn.

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