With Rosh Hashanah behind us and the happiness of a new year still fresh, we now approach the profound observance of Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur, the most significant day in the Jewish calendar, is known as the day of atonement. It provides a moment to seek forgiveness and marks the conclusion of the “10 Days of Awe,” a time set aside for Jews to engage in “teshuvah” or repentance.

As a youth, I found myself with a reluctant respect for Yom Kippur. Although the services felt endless and the fast was tough, I cherished the stillness it required. My family typically returned home after the central service, letting time pass slowly until sunset, engaging in discussions about the sermon and eagerly anticipating the oversized Costco muffins that marked our community’s break-fast.

This year’s global atmosphere feels increasingly chaotic, highlighting the significance of dedicating a day to deep reflection.

Yom Kippur encourages a spirit of generosity, prompting us to believe that God sees our good traits and that we can discover them ourselves. In that spirit, I offer a guide for both Jewish and non-Jewish readers this year.

Here’s how to approach atonement meaningfully.

Reflect on mortality

If Yom Kippur teaches us anything, it’s the need to recognize our tenuous hold on life. A central part of the holiday features a reading, Unetaneh Tokef, which contemplates the various ways individuals might meet their end in the coming year.

It suggests contemplating the harsh realities of existence, reminding us not to consider ourselves invincible: Life is a precious gift that deserves to be honored through good living.

However, the good life envisioned during Yom Kippur is not about indulgences; it calls for acts of kindness: sharing excess resources with those in need, extending patience to friends during tough times, or helping a rushing commuter by holding the subway doors.

Ultimately, small acts of kindness are more likely to mend the world than any monumental changes.

Embrace humility

“We all live under constant uncertainty, and no one knows when calamity will strike,” Rabbi David Wolpe of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles remarked to a New York Times columnist in 2018.

Yom Kippur gives us the opportunity to pause our pursuit of eternal youth and acknowledge humbly that we may not have a tomorrow, despite our efforts.

Seeking forgiveness also requires humility; Yom Kippur isn’t a day for passive reflection. It requires us to actively express our atonement, to lower ourselves in front of others, and offer heartfelt apologies without any assurance of receiving forgiveness.

In this process, worshipers must engage in good deeds without the expectation of rewards.

True goodness cannot be merely a pathway to recognition; it must be self-sustaining.

Cultivate hope

There’s a reason Yom Kippur follows Rosh Hashanah closely. We reflect on our past mistakes—both personally and as a society—to welcome in a better year.

The hope that arises is not simply a naive wish but a deliberate effort, informed by our awareness of where we faltered.

This is the hope we, as Jews, embrace as Yom Kippur concludes each year. It is a clear acknowledgment of the demands of goodness, alongside a steadfast commitment to enrich our lives, communities, and the world with positivity.