Yom Kippur Prayers
גמר חתימה טובה
This list of prayers and stories for Yom Kippur id divided by topic: Vidui (confession), T’shuva (Repentance), Neilah (closing service), Living in Holiness, Sacred Time and Death/Mourning. Here are several additional lists of prayers for Elul, Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.
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.
Click here for the full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim. Here are focused lists of prayers for Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. And here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.
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Photo Source: Temple Judea