Jews Talk Racial Justice - Ep 54: Yom Kippur and the Importance of Process

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QUICK EPISODE OVERVIEW

In this week’s episode, as we mark Yom Kippur, April and Tracie discuss the big concepts and ideas that can frame Yom Kippur and give some practical tips for how to work through our collective and individual yearly accounting of our souls by finding the joy in the process. 

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Access the audio version of this episode here.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. What does Yom Kippur mean to you? What does your Yom Kippur usually look like? What do you want to do differently this year?

  2. Tracie talks about doing what every fasting looks like for you. What does fasting look like for you? 

  3. What is “It” that is your community’s collective sin that must be atone for? Tracie names racism as one. Is it that and others? 

  4. Tracie and April discuss the three primary relationships that Judaism concerns itself with. Have you thought about Jewish tradition in this way? What do you think about it? What are examples of each that you can think of?

  5. Tracie links the 4 I’s of Oppression with the 3 relationships important to Judaism.  The Al Chet connected to institutional oppression is one example that Tracie names. How would you link them together?

  6. Tracie and April discuss the importance of focusing more on what you want, like becoming more patient rather than being less angry, or as April says, “what you focus on grows”. What do you want to grow? How can you think about some of your goals differently using this framing? 

  7. April uses her experiences of learning Wolof, exercising, and cheerleading to demonstrate how finding the fun in the process, rather than focusing on the outcome, can be helpful in undertaking large change processes. When you think of your own goals, how can you think about the process of achieving them differently using this framework? 

  8. Tracie names the importance of consistency and systems in achieving our goals. What are the systems you can create that you can consistently work within to achieve that goal?

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?

Let us know in the comments below!