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)
- Meditation Before the Yom Kippur Vidui – On preparing for a thorough and honest confession.
- Meditation After the Yom Kippur Vidui – Living differently after a heartfelt confession.
- The Greatest Sin – Allowing the conditions for sin to take root.
T’shuva (Repentance, Return)
- Cry No More – This is the day G-d made to relieve your sorrow.
- Who, Still Broken – A meditation on Un’taneh Tokef.
- Repentance Inside – To leave my transgressions behind.
- Regarding Old Wounds – Are you willing to take your most crushing losses and turn them into a well of strength and love?
- Let Your Heart Stir – Let the shofar echo into your life.
Neilah (Closing Service)
- At the Gates – At the gates of prayer, repentance and charity.
- Meditation Before Neilah – What have I left to say to G-d?
- The Entry to Our Hearts – A cry for hope and healing.
Living in Holiness
- Is This the Fast? – An introspection based on Isaiah 58:6-7.
- For Wonder and Awe – To put aside vain pursuits and seek G-d.
- The Path of Righteousness – The path is paved with questions.
- G-d’s Plan: An Introspection – Surrendering to G-d’s will.
- Let Holiness – A prayer to embody holiness.
Sacred Time
- The Season of Healing – Healing our souls and our lives.
- The Season of Return – Preparing for t’shuva, returning to G-d.
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.