Your personal reflections, through 10 questions

The value of reflection is often lost in today’s fast-paced society. In conjunction with Reboot, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is offering the 10Q project, a new way for people of all backgrounds to slow down and examine their lives in a meaningful way.

10Q is a digital platform for people to rethink the significance of the time period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and its relevance to their lives today, by generating a space for annual reflection. It is a reinvention of the ancient ritual of reflection during the 10 days surrounding the Jewish New Year. 

10 Days. 10 Questions. Participants receive one question a day online over the 10 days linking the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. At the end of the 10 days, participants’ answers to questions, about life, goals, relationships, ways they hope to impact the world, and more, are sent to a digital vault, accessible only to them. Next year, just before Rosh Hashanah, the answers are sent to participants and the process begins again. Over time, participants build an archive of beliefs, values and experiences. You can sign up now to join 10Q during the High Holidays at www.doyou10q.com.

The questions are self-reflective rather than religious to accommodate people of all backgrounds. 10Q was developed in a partnership between Nicola Behrman, playwright and screenwriter; Ben Greenman, editor at the New Yorker; and Amelia Klein, former associate director of Reboot, an incubator of Jewish arts and culture that seeks to reinvent and reimagine Jewish rituals and traditions.

For those who are interested in participating as a community, at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center there will be a visual reflection board with sections for each of the 10 questions. Families, classes and groups who are interested may also print their own 10Q cards to conduct a deep conversation about their reflections on the past year and their intentions for the year ahead.

In addition, a 10Q Journal is available as a place to press the pause button and to reflect, look back, look ahead. The Journal offers a taste of the reflection process in a beautiful presentation and is available in adult and family editions. 

Submitted by LARRY KATZ, the director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For any of the resources, mentioned in this article, contact him at lkatz@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111.