The right hand is clenched into a fist. Words of confession are recited. The heart is lightly struck.
Ashamnu, bagadnu, gazalnu…
We have sinned, we have betrayed, we have stolen…
Those actions and words are repeated time and again over the course of Yom Kippur as people recite Vidui, the traditional confession prayer. Despite its familiarity, the meaning of Vidui can be a mystery. To truly get the most from the Vidui service, now is the time to read up on how this profound prayer remains relevant, even to our most modern sins, transgressions and indiscretions.
The Vidui is comprised of two dozen Hebrew words presented in alphabetical order beginning with Ashamnu and ending with Titanu (We have misled others). But that doesn’t mean “there are only 24 sins or kinds of sin; rather, it is meant to convey that we as individuals and as a community have sinned ‘from alef to tav,’ or, as we say in English, ‘from A to Z.’” So begins a handy 12-page booklet produced by the Israel Torah Center which you can print out and use during the Yom Kippur service. It contains the entire Hebrew text of the Vidui, a literal translation into English and a brief commentary putting the sins into context. Highly recommended.
Actually, the 24-word Vidui is said at various times during the year and by some Jews on almost a daily basis. However, on Yom Kippur the Vidui continues with the longer “Al Chet” prayer. This more specific list of 44 statements including the catch-all confession: “Forgive us the breach of positive commands and negative commands, whether or not they involve an act, whether or not they are known to us.” Rabbi Shraga Simmons explores each of these statements in detail.
Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller says that despite its length, the Vidui is not meant to induce paralyzing guilt. She points out that the word “chet” does not mean sin. Rather, it is an archery term that means “missing the mark.” Rabbi Goldie Milgram continues the metaphor. “Judaism understands you to be constantly developing and capable of changing your trajectory.”
Art Braufman has studied the gamut of sins mentioned in the Vidui and asks why fully one-third refer to the sins of speech. And then he quotes this insight: “Most of us have hurt few people with our fists or our feet, but we have hurt many with our words. The tongue is a dangerous weapon. The sages say it is guarded by a fence of teeth and two lips, yet it gets out and does damage. How often have we cut down a person with a quip? How often have we carried tales and sullied a reputation?”
I have come across several updated Vidui texts that give our sins a modern spin. Israel-based Rabbis for Human Rights has created a confession for the ills they see plaguing Israel and the Jewish people, including:
• For the sin when we gave up and said, “Let others repair the world.”
• For the sin we have sinned against You saying, “If I am not for myself who will be for me?” to justify caring only about Jews.
• And for the sin we have sinned against You saying, “If I am only for myself, who am I?” caring only about non-Jews.
In his Business Ethics Checklist, Dr. Meir Tamari points out that over the course of Yom Kippur, we beat our chest five times while acknowledging sins committed both in public and in private. Consider these modern, private sins: “Many economic crimes, in particular, can be easily hidden from public scrutiny. Insider trading, non-disclosure of material information, selling defective merchandise, using false weights or deceptive packaging and utilizing misleading advertising are all examples of ‘secret’ crimes. Copy tapes, computer programs and other protected materials are examples of ‘secret’ thefts.”
The author of the Thoughts of Judaism blog has looked at his relationship with his children, and has composed a very personal Al Chet for my Kids:
• For the sin of not playing catch because I was too tired.
• For the sin of not giving you my undivided attention while I was responding to email.
• For the sin of not taking your dreams more seriously.
• And for the sin of not repenting all of this sooner.
Calgary’s Eliezer “Uncle Eli” Segal has created a delightful and meaningful Vidui for children which uses a light touch get a serious message across to kids (and the kid in all of us.)
I ate all the cake/ Mama saved for our guests.
I broke her blue vase/ and I left a big mess.
I cried, kicked and screamed/ till I got my own way
I didn’t clean up my old clothes/ for 12 days.
I did it! I’m Sorry!
Next year I’ll be good.
I’ll try to be better,
and do what I should.