Repair the World

Celebrate International Forgiveness Day

This Sunday, August 5, is International Forgiveness Day – a day organized by the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance (yes, that’s totally a real thing) and dedicated to promoting the importance of sincere forgiveness in building strong relationships and communities.

Sound familiar? That’s because, a bit more than a month from now is the international Jewish day of forgiveness, also known as Yom Kippur. A day where Jews atone and apologize – to themselves, others, and God – for any errors and wrong doings they committed, and others are meant to forgive them and move on. (Check out this interesting article in the Washington Post about forgiving and being forgiven on Yom Kippur.)

So think of this Sunday’s forgiveness holiday as a primer for Yom Kippur – a day to begin getting you into the spirit for the massive season of forgiveness coming up on the Jewish calendar. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Make a list. In fact, make two: One list of people that you feel you have wronged and would like to apologize to, and one of people that you might be holding a grudge against. Think about ways you can talk to the people on your lists and make amends.
• Think big. Take some time to think about the unintentional global wrongs you might be a part of – things that go beyond person-to-person relationships and impact the world or your own spiritual and emotional life. Resolve to find ways to ease these wrongs between now and Yom Kippur.
• Give tzedakah. One of the three major ways to repent on Yom Kippur is to commit to giving tzedakah. (The other two are tshuvah, or repentance and tefillah, prayer.) So between International Forgiveness Day and Yom Kippur, research a few world-changing organizations and commit to supporting their work, however you can.

How will you celebrate International Forgiveness Day? Let us know by tweeting @repairtheworld.