Prayers, Meditations, Stories & Poems for Yom Kippur

Prayers, Meditations, Stories & Poems for Yom Kippur

This post offers a list of links to prayers, meditations, stories and poetry for Yom Kippur, written by Alden Solovy, a Jewish poet, liturgist and teacher whose prayers have been used by people of all faiths around the world. The materials are divided by topics relevant to this holy day: Vidui (confession), T’shuva (Repentance), Neilah (closing service), Living in Holiness, Sacred Time and Death/Mourning. 

Vidui (Confession)

T’shuva (Repentance, Return)

Neilah (Closing Service)

Living in Holiness

Sacred Time

Death and Mourning

For an annotated list of Memorial and Yizkor prayers, click here. Here are three prayers about preparing for death:

  • Near the End: A Meditation – On preparing for the journey of death with grace and dignity.
  • Remember – Whatever our fears, this is a call back to our deepest sense of peace and well-being.
  • Things Break – Each day we face the flow of endings and beginnings. G-d’s love remains.

Short Story

Cantor Cohen” is a Yom Kippur story of a Chazzan preparing to lead his congregation in prayer, repentance and righteousness.