SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILY CELEBRATION


Even young children can learn the deeper meaning of the holiday. The actual steps of teshuva can be taught and practiced at home. According to Maimonides, the first step is to recognize and regret faulty behavior, asking forgiveness of those who have been wronged; second, to reject the behavior by ceasing to do it; and third, to resolve to behave better by making different choices in the future. Rabbi Irving Greenberg calls these "the three R's of repentance."

As parents, our responsibility is to not only model the practice of teshuva but to help our children and each other understand that mistakes can be overcome and the slate wiped clean. This is the time of year to raise our own moral consciences, as well, by setting goals with our families for mitzvah actions and tzedakah work for the coming year. Sharing these goals and activities with friends can be a positive and supportive project.

A few concrete suggestions include: collect baby items books, and toys; give away outgrown clothes; purchase extra food for the food bank; adopt an elderly shut-in or nursing home resident; pet animals at the Humane Society; help neighbors with yardwork; plant a tree; work on litter patrol; volunteer at a school or hospital; serve a meal at a shelter; save all pennies that comes your way, and donate them to a homeless shelter; donate your old furniture to the community warehouse; donate to an institution whose values and work you admire; invite others whose families are far away for holiday or Shabbat dinners; say "I love you" to each member of your family every day; say the Shema each night before you go to sleep.