This two part, five-hour workshop, led by Rabbi David Jaffe, is designed to help people create a personal vidui/confession to bring into the high holy days that can serve as a spiritual action plan for the coming year.
Most of us are familiar with the vidui/confession that is part of the Yom Kippur liturgy. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov encouraged his students to make a personal vidui as well that specified all the areas in which one wants to grow.
Through Torah study, guided meditation, journaling and one-to-one discussions, the workshop leader guides participants through the steps in creating a vidui based on experiences of the past year. The review is conducted using the framework of the middot//soul traits so participants can understand the vidui in the context of their personal soul curriculum. Time is allotted for journal review in class and is assigned for the period between classes. For example, one participant’s journal review revealed that he was overcommitted and constantly struggled with being late. The soul traits associated with this issue for him were Seder/Order,Achrayut/Responsibility and Bitachon/Trust. He put this issue and these middot on his personal vidui to bring into Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
The second part of the workshop guides participants through creating goals for growth for the coming year. The goals grow organically from the vidui as we identify the key middot associated with each personal goal to help participants hone in on the aspects of the soul curriculum that will be a focus for the coming year. For example, our overcommitted and late friend made as a goal for the coming year to be relaxed and organized with a clear sense of priorities based on what he really wants for himself and the world. The middot to work on to achieve this goal are Kavod/Respect, Seder/Order, and Bitachon/Trust. The kabbalot (small practices) to work on these middot might include 15 minutes of meditation each day to clarify what one really wants (Ratzon); using a special planner that organizes daily activities based on priorities and any other small practices that will directly address the key middot for this goal.
Past participants commented that that the workshop helped them have their most meaningful high holy day experience and provided an invaluable action plan for the year.
For information about in person and online class dates and times, click here.
To download the workshop flyer, click here.