As we transition to a new year, the High Holidays are a time for introspection. We may reflect on the losses of previous years, and feel challenged to look ahead without our person. At Rosh Hashanah, we figuratively discard our sins during Tashlich, which may also bring up grief for us.  

A central theme of the Yom Kippur liturgy is the idea of remembering the dead, which we do through the Yizkor memorial service. This is often a helpful container for our grief. And, as we feel our grief in Yizkor, it is situated within the larger context of Yom Kippur, considered a dress rehearsal for death. We wear white, similar to the shrouds we will be buried in. We also refrain from eating and drinking and pleasurable activities, bringing us back in touch with our mortality.


Booklet Section: Remembrance