High Holidays, Jewish Holiday, Self Care & Wellness
Elul Reflection Journal
INTRODUCTION:
The Hebrew month of Elul is a time for self-reflection in preparation for the start of a new Jewish year. In this intimate, grounding program, community members will come together to support each other in self-growth. Community members will leave with a personal Elul reflection journal that can guide them through writing prompts to prepare for the high holy days.
MATERIALS:
- Little pocket-sized journals
- Sheets with one month of Elul journal prompts
- Stickers
- Markers
- Colored pencils
- Pens
- Pencils
- Tape
- Glue sticks
- Optional:
- Speaker and Elul playlist
- Optional: snacks, drinks, etc…
PROGRAM OUTLINE (60 minutes):
- Welcome/Framing (5 minutes)
- Decorate/Write In Journals (40 minutes)
- Closing Reflection (15 minutes)
Welcome/Framing (5 minutes)
- Welcome everyone, optional whip around of names/pronouns.
- SAY: The month of Elul is a time for cheshbon hanefesh, accounting of the soul. It’s a time to take stock and reevaluate how we are showing up in the world. We take this month of Elul to reflect in order to prepare for the Jewish New Year so we may enter the year as the best version of ourselves.
- SAY: We are going to take the time to make Elul Reflection Journals to give ourselves the opportunity to engage in self-reflection throughout this month as we build up to the start of the Jewish New Year.
Decorate/Write In Journals (40 minutes)
- SAY: We encourage you all to start by decorating your journals. Then write a dedication or intention on one of the first pages so you can return to that whenever you open your journal. And finally, fill the pages either with the prompts (handwritten or glued in from the print outs) so you can fill it out throughout the month of Elul. Or take the time to respond to a few prompts and start your self-reflection now.
- TIP: Create a sample journal ahead of the program as an example to show your community members.
Closing Reflection (15 minutes)
- Have everyone go around and share the dedication they wrote or share an intention they have for the month of Elul.