Al Chet – Preparing for Yom Kippur

Working towards being 'on target'

The Ivrit term for ’sin’ -chet- derives from an archery term meaning to ‘miss the mark’ – we use this concept with the kids to explore the idea of Teshuva or repentance/return.  The image encourages students to think about mistakes in a less binary way. Behavior can be closer to, or further from the ideal or ‘mark’. It also suggests that returning is a process – it is by practice and commitment that we get closer to our ideals, just as repeated work improves our aim.

A few highlights from the kids preparations for Yom Kippur:

• Shorashim preparing skits depicting kids ‘missing the mark’ and then showing them taking steps to do teshuva.

  

  The Nitzanim Room Became a Place of Reflection - Literally and Figuratively
• Nitzanim being dazzled by the environment that Chemda and Bryna created for their lesson – walls covered in aluminum foil provided an inspiring space to think about the process of ‘reflection’.

• Anafim discussing how to alert one another that they have missed the mark, whilst heeding the traditional prohibition on shaming.