Teaching Forgiveness in a Way Kids Will Understand

Let’s talk about Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. It’s one of the most important days on the Jewish calendar and for families who follow Jesus (Yeshua), it’s an incredible opportunity to remember the depth of God’s forgiveness.

In the Old Testament (Leviticus 16), Yom Kippur was the one day a year when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make a sacrifice for the sins of the people. There were two goats, one sacrificed and one “scapegoat” sent into the wilderness to carry the sins away.

Fast forward to the New Testament and we see Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. The One who paid for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 10:12). Because of Him, we don’t need yearly sacrifices. Our forgiveness is complete!

Even though Yom Kippur is serious, it’s still a great time to involve your kids in meaningful, age-appropriate activities:

3 Kid-Friendly Yom Kippur Ideas:

Family Forgiveness Time: Sit together and talk about how you can forgive each other. Parents, this is a great moment to model what it looks like to say “I’m sorry.”

Scapegoat Activity: Write down mistakes or “sorry” moments on small slips of paper. Tear them up and toss them into a basket, fire pit, or stream as a visual reminder that God removes our sins.

Prayer Walk: Take a short walk together, thanking God for His love and forgiveness. You can pray quietly or take turns praying out loud.

Yom Kippur is ultimately about forgiveness, restoration and God’s great love. And thanks to Jesus, we can live every day in that truth, not just once a year!

So whether you’re teaching your kids about the goats, making a craft, or simply sharing some time in prayer, remember that these little moments plant big seeds of faith.

If you’re looking for more ways to make biblical holidays like Yom Kippur meaningful for your kids, our Fall Feasts Box is packed with activities, devotionals, and crafts designed to help families experience the richness of God’s appointed times together. As a special bonus, it even includes a free copy of Freddy’s Fall Feasts Adventure eBook. A fun story that teaches about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.