Family Conversations
The Ten Days are a good time for having thoughtful one-on-one conversations or a sit-down talk as a whole family.
You can download and print these prompts to guide you.
Family Conversations
PART ONE: Making Myself (Even) Better
Think about your actions.
- What things have I done this past year that I’m proud of?
- What can I do this new year that I’ll be proud of?
- How can I get started?
PART TWO: Making Family and Friendships Stronger
Have a one-on-one conversation with a family member or friend.
- What are some kind things we’ve done for each other this past year?
- How have we disrespected or hurt each other this past year? Now is the time to apologize for those acts and to offer each other forgiveness.
- What’s the best way to keep these things from happening again?
PART THREE: Family Goals
Sit as a family to discuss your goals for the new year and ways to grow even kinder to each other.
- When do we feel most connected as a family? When is it harder to get along?
- How can we support each other better?
- What are some ideas for making family time more special in the new year?
Examples: No phones or gossip (lashon hara) at the dinner table. Sharing Friday night (Shabbat) dinner together. Eating healthier food or spending more time outdoors together.
PART FOUR: Fixing the World
(Tikkun olam in Hebrew)
As a family, discuss ways to reach out to others in your neighborhood, your community, and the world.
- Do we have a neighbor who lives alone or friends who are going through a difficult time? What can we do to help them?
- Are there people in our community who need food, clothes, or shelter? Are there people who aren’t treated fairly? What are some ways we can support them?
- What are our tikkun olam goals (helping animals, helping the environment, visiting the elderly, etc.) and what project ideas can we think up?
(TIP: If your family has a tzedakah box for collecting money for charitable donations, this is a good time of year to talk about where to give the money when the box gets full.)