Journal Writing and Reflection Prompts for Elulby Rabbi Katie Mizrahi (with thanks to Ritualwell)
Writing can be a profound spiritual practice. In the days of Elul, leading up to the High Holy Days, use these questions each day as a way to practice the soul accounting essential to teshuvah.
Day 1: What do you hope for in the New Year?
Day 2: What is forgiveness and how do we forgive?
Day 3: What makes a good apology?
Day 4: What do you regret?
Day 5: What does teshuvah mean to you?
Day 6: What would it look like for the United States of America to do teshuvah for slavery? For the crimes against indigenous peoples?
Day 7: What would it look like for humanity to do teshuvah for our abuse of the earth?
Day 8: Have you ever changed for the better? If so, how?
Day 9: What are your bad habits?
Day 10: What’s one good habit you aspire to embrace? When will you start?
Day 11: Imagine High Holy Days three years into the future… 20 years…
Day 12: Pick your favorite prayer, story or practice of the season and drash (interpret) it.
Day 13: What have you learned since last Rosh Hashanah? About yourself? About the world around you?
Day 14: What sustains you in times of challenge?
Day 15: What does it mean to be good?
Day 16: Which virtue do you value most and why?
Day 17: Who inspires you and why?
Day 18: What is one thing you are ashamed of? One thing you are proud of?
Day 19: If your soul could speak, what would she say?
Day 20: What can you do if your loved ones make a mistake?
Day 21: Who do you yearn to be?
Day 22: What do you need to release or embrace in order to shine more brightly?
Day 23: Who are you remembering this year?
Day 24: What are your sins?
Day 25: Write your own eulogy.
Day 26: How are you being called to take responsibility?
Day 27: Where do you need to heal?
Day 28: What are you turning away from and what are you turning toward?
Wed, August 20 2025 26 Av 5785
