What's All the Praying About?
On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur many families go to services. Whatever your practice is, PJ Library offers two helpful tools:
- Tips on talking with your kids about God (no matter what you believe)
- An audio taste of five High Holiday prayers, shortened and translated to be family-friendly. For more explanations and reflections, download and print.
Reflections on 5 High Holiday Prayers
For more songs and prayers, visit Listen.
5 High Holiday Prayers:
AVINU MALKEINU
Our Parent, Our Support
Avinu Malkeinu, please answer us, though we may not deserve it, and treat us generously and kindly and help us to improve.
Avinu Malkeinu, haneinu va’aneinu ki ein banu ma'asim. Asei imanu tzedakah vachesed vehoshi'einu.
KI ANU AMECHA
Because We Are Your People
Ki anu amecha ve’ata Eloheinu – Because we are your people, and you are our God
Anu vanecha ve’ata avinu – We are your children, and you are our parent
Anu karmecha ve’ata notreinu – We are your crops, and you are our farmer
Anu tzonecha ve’ata ro’einu – We are your flock, and you are our shepherd
Anu k’shei oref ve’ata erech apayim – We are stubborn, while you are patient
Anu fe’ulatecha ve’ata yotzreinu – We are a piece of artwork, and you are the artist
ASHMANU
We Take Responsibility
We take responsibility (ashamnu) for times when…
We hid things from others – bagadnu
We took something that wasn’t ours – gazalnu
We said something bad about others – dibarnu dofi
We got someone else into trouble – hirshanu
We told a lie – tafalnu shaker
We made fun of someone – latznu
We disobeyed our parents – maradnu
We were not good friends – tzararnu
We refused to admit that we were wrong – kishinu oref
We hit or hurt someone – rashanu
We did something we knew we shouldn’t – shihatnu
We weren’t thinking and just messed up – ta’inu
As we start a new year, forgive us for our mistakes and give us a chance to be better.
Slach lanu. Mechal lanu. Kaper lanu. Clean our slate, wipe away the bad, help us learn and grow.
UNETANEH TOKEF
We Tune Into the Power of This Day
On Rosh Hashanah the judgment is written down, and on the fast of Yom Kippur it is sealed.
BeRosh Hashana yikateivun uveYom tzom Kippur yeihateimun.
ALEINU
We Are Called to Praise
With our unique story and special values, we are called as the Jewish people to praise the Creator of all things. So we bend our knees, bow to the ground, and say out loud how grateful we are. And we hope, Source of Unity, that you will help us fix the world and make it whole.
Aleinu leshabei'ach la'adon hakol, lateit gedula leyotzer bereishit, shelo asanu kegoyei ha'aratzot velo samanu kemishpechot ha'adama, shelo sam chelkeinu kahem vegoraleinu kechol hamonam. Va'anachnu kor'im umishtachavim umodim lifnei melech malchei hamelachim haKadosh Baruch Hu. Al ken nekaveh lecha Adonai Eloheinu letakein olam bemalchut shadai.