Students Seek Forgiveness, Too

Adults aren\'t the only ones planning to ask God for forgiveness during the High Holidays. As the Day of Atonement approaches, youngsters around Los Angeles are already contemplating the mistakes they\'ve made over the past year. Here is what eight young Angelenos plan to repent for during Yom Kippur.

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Sharon Schatz Rosenthal

October 2, 2003

Adults aren’t the only ones planning to ask God for forgiveness during the High Holidays. As the Day of Atonement approaches, youngsters around Los Angeles are already contemplating the mistakes they’ve made over the past year. Here is what eight young Angelenos plan to repent for during Yom Kippur.

Sophie Kay

Age: 12

7th Grade

Brentwood

I will repent for gossip. When one of your friends doesn’t like another one of your friends, they talk about the person. Of course, I try not to take part in it, but it’s hard.

Zack Hirst

Age: 12

8th Grade

Castaic

I think I’ll ask forgiveness for everything I’ve done bad this year, like not being honest with my parents.

Erin Blagman

Age: 11

6th Grade

Hancock Park

I’ll probably ask for forgiveness for not working to my full ability in school. Also I’ll try not to be so sarcastic all the time with my family. Mainly, it’s my timing with that one!

Spencer Anson

Age: 11

6th Grade

Los Angeles

My sister and I got into a couple of fights lately. I’m going to apologize for whenever I was mean to her.

Rebecca Shapiro

Age: 13

8th Grade

North Hollywood

I’ll atone for mistakes I made that hurt other people. I don’t mean to hurt them, but sometimes I do. I’ll also atone for the opportunities I had to do kindness and didn’t do it.

Staav Goldreich

Age: 14

9th Grade

Woodland Hills

I don’t know what I’ll atone for. I’ve been a good child this year. I’ve been mean to my sister, but she deserved that. How about I’m sorry that I ate so much chocolate?

Natasha Rosenfield

Age: 12

7th Grade

Granada Hills

Mostly, I’d like to ask forgiveness of some of my friends, because we fought and to my parents because we disagree a lot and get into fights sometimes. I’ll probably confront them all.

David Hermel

Age: 13

8th Grade

Sherman Oaks

When I think of teshuvah, which means "return," I think of how I can be a better person and return to my Jewish values by doing mitzvot and chesed (acts of lovingkindness). At this time of the year especially, I ask my friends and family to forgive me for sins I may have committed against them.