How can we make use of this year’s High Holy Days to help us heal the broken places within us? We’ll talk about how writing our stories can help us make meaning and find a spiritual lens in which to frame them. Some short readings and writing exercises will offer us examples and starting points.

 

 

The letter has deep roots in Judaism. Letters allow us to identify what is broken, clarify our values, ask for forgiveness, and express praise, regret and love. We will read excerpts from a variety of letters to get a feel for how these emotions have been articulated. With writing prompts, we will identify some of our own values and get some thoughts onto the page. 

 

 

Ellen Blum Barish is the author of the memoir, Seven Springs (Shanti Arts, 2021) a collection of essays, Views from the Home Office Window (Adams Street Publishing, 2007) and a contributor to two anthologies published by Chicago Story Press. You can find her essays in the New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Tablet, Lilith, Brevity, Full Grown People, Literary Mama and hear them on Chicago Public Radio. She founded the literary publication Thread, which earned four notables in Best American Essays and has taught writing at Northwestern University where she earned a master’s in journalism. She currently teaches workshops at Story Studio Chicago and Lighthouse Lit Fest and works privately with writers on essay collections and memoir. Find out more at ellenblumbarish.com.