As summer winds down and the leaves begin to think about turning, a new year approaches on the Jewish calendar. It’s that time of year when The Selfhelp Home fills with a special kind of energy. An energy rooted in memory, meaning and tradition.
The Jewish High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—are a sacred time, offering reflection, renewal, and reconnection for our residents and their families. At our Chicago-based senior living community, honoring these holy days isn’t just about offering religious programming, it’s part of our spiritual and cultural fabric.
It’s our identity.
At Selfhelp, we cherish the opportunity to help residents stay close to the Rosh Hashanah traditions and Yom Kippur reflections they’ve upheld for decades, while also creating space for new memories to blossom in a loving, pluralistic environment.
A Season of Meaning: High Holidays at Selfhelp
The Jewish High Holidays, beginning with Rosh Hashanah and culminating with Yom Kippur, are among the most profound and spiritually significant times of the year.
Known as the Ten Days of Repentance, this period invites introspection, forgiveness, and hope. For many of our residents, these days are filled with personal meaning. Memories of family dinners, synagogue services, apples dipped in honey, and the inspiring blasts of the shofar flood our hallways this time of year.
“At SH, our residents form a vibrant Jewish community,” shares Jonathan Schwartz, our Director of Jewish Life. “Like all Jewish communities, they ask tough questions, bicker on occasion, and most importantly, support and indeed love one another.”
At Selfhelp, we honor our community with the respect and care they deserve. We believe that aging should never mean a distancing from one’s faith or identity. Instead, we strive to make every holiday, especially the Jewish High Holidays, feel just as special as they did in our residents’ homes.
Rosh Hashanah Traditions That Feel Like Home
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time to reflect on the past and look ahead with hope. Our celebrations blend tradition with community warmth.
The culinary team prepares beautiful kosher-style holiday meals that include beloved Rosh Hashanah staples like challah, brisket, kugel, and of course, apples and honey to signify a sweet new year.
Services are held on-site in our intimate and inclusive gathering spaces, beautifully adorned with fresh Bimah flowers generously provided by donor Donna Mayer.
Led by our Director of Jewish Life, Jonathan Schwartz, our services are carefully curated to be spiritually fulfilling, accessible, and meaningful to residents from across the spectrum of Jewish observance. Whether a resident grew up attending Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, or secular services, they can find familiarity here.
Our High Holiday services include the recitation of traditional prayers, Torah readings, and the sounding of the shofar. We welcome family members to join, helping us create multi-generational moments of connection and continuity.
Embracing the Ten Days of Repentance
The period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as the Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuvah), is a time of soul-searching and return. We use this time to create opportunities for residents to reflect, connect, and renew.
We host guided discussions and study groups led by Jonathan Schwartz and visiting scholars that delve into the themes of repentance, forgiveness, and inner growth. These gatherings encourage open conversation, personal storytelling, and the sharing of Jewish wisdom in a safe and supportive environment.
Jonathan reflects on the deeper meaning of this sacred time: “Over the years at SH, I’ve learned that belief—like community—is stronger when carried together. The High Holidays offer us a beautiful opportunity to ‘carry’ one another forward—our residents, their families, and our staff—with the prayers of our people.”
A Thoughtful and Accessible Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is often considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It’s a solemn day, and for older adults, the traditional practice of fasting or attending lengthy services may not be physically feasible. At The Selfhelp Home, we embrace a philosophy of inclusion and dignity, ensuring that all residents can participate in ways that are comfortable and meaningful for them.
Our Yom Kippur observance is conducted with care and adapted as needed for accessibility and energy levels. Residents are encouraged to attend as much or as little as they wish, and accommodations are always made with health and comfort in mind. Throughout the day, we provide alternative programming for those who prefer a quieter space to reflect, meditate, or connect privately.
“As we enter a new season of teshuvah and renewal at the High Holidays, I see the best of the human spirit in our residents and their families,” Jonathan observes.
He draws inspiration from both ancient and contemporary sources, sharing how the timeless words of Maimonides still resonate today: “I believe with complete faith in the coming of Mashiach, and although he may tarry, nevertheless, I wait every day for him to come.”
Jonathan also appreciates Craig Taubman’s contemporary interpretation: “I believe with perfect faith that better days will come. And even if they take their time, through all of life’s joys and horrors, still we will hope, still we will work, still we will pray for their coming.”
A Jewish Home, Every Day of the Year
While the Jewish High Holidays are a special time, they are not the only time that Jewish life is nurtured at The Selfhelp Home. What sets our senior living community apart is the consistency and care with which we uphold Jewish traditions and values year-round.
From weekly Shabbat services and holiday celebrations to ongoing learning sessions, cultural outings, and kosher-style dining, our residents experience a life enriched by faith, community, and purpose.
Our approach is pluralistic and inclusive, honoring the diversity within the Jewish experience while cultivating a warm and welcoming community.
The Selfhelp Home was founded by Holocaust survivors and refugees. Built by people who rebuilt their lives with courage, tradition, and the support of one another.
Our founders’ legacy remains alive in our halls, in our programs, and at our celebrations. We are more than a senior living community. We are a Jewish home in the deepest sense of the word.
We invite you to experience The Selfhelp Home for yourself. Walk through our halls, share a meal, attend a service, or speak with our residents and staff—you’ll quickly see what makes this place magical.
This season, you can also share in the spirit of tradition by sending a High Holiday card from Selfhelp. Each card is a meaningful way to honor a loved one while supporting the cultural programs that make life at Selfhelp so vibrant.
Order your High Holiday cards.
L’Shanah Tovah, from our home to yours.