This is just part of one version of the vidui prayer for Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement and the holiest day of the year. This was from a supplemental text by the Orthodox Union, rather than right from the Machzor, the special prayer book for the High Holy Days. What amazes me is how some sins are referenced so repeatedly and variously, some so specifically, but others, not so much. And the utterly random order is baffling too. But by the end of the prayer, believe me, you do feel devastated.
We have become guilty of a whole variety of sins. What we have done was not
necessarily to rebel against G-d, but we nonetheless are devastated by our behavior.
We have eaten forbidden foods, questionable foods, without proper manners and concern for others, and without saying proper brachot;
There is something lacking in our faith in G-d (even just sometimes);
We don't always say Amen properly;
We have had a cruel streak...
We have betrayed G-d by not doing His mitzvot properly and by acting in a way that is disloyal to G-d;
We have betrayed family & friends;
We have wasted prayer and Torah study time;
We were not careful with Milk & Meat;
We relied on ourselves sometimes to the exclusion of trusting in G-d;
We have said "sloppy" brachot; we have belittled parents, teachers, scholars, friends;
We have wasted time;
We have stolen — things, time, someone’s sleep, ideas;
We have deceived others;
We have been arrogant;
We have wrongly taken credit for something;
We have harmed or annoyed others;
We have not raised our children properly;
We have not been strict enough about sexual behavior;
We have not repaid kindnesses properly...
We have slandered G-d by questioning His justice and kindness, and we have slandered people.
We have said one thing and meant something else.
We have gossiped, defamed, used vulgarities, spoken disrespectfully, shouted - generally
misused the power of speech;
We have not given people the benefit of the doubt...
We have caused perversion;
We have corrupted others;
We have entertained improper thoughts during davening, Torah learning, or in general;
We have davened without kavana;
We have burdened others;
We have encroached on another's "space";
We have looked at indecent pictures, literature, etc.
We have caused wickedness and caused others to sin;
We have neglected to be properly respectful of G-d;
We have showed lack of concern for the possessions of others;
We have said we're sorry without trying to mean it;
We have fomented dissent;
We have joined with others and wasted time on nonsense...
We have sinned intentionally, and then have rationalized our behavior (making T'shuva all the more difficult);
We have taken G-d's Name in vain;
We have been careless about ritual washing of our hands;
We have been disrespectful to our parents;
We "ate like pigs"; threw food around;
We have mingled immodestly...
We have extorted;
We have taken advantage of those weaker than us;
We have pressured others to give in to us;
We have caused Chilul HaShem;
We have falsely flattered others; thought bad thoughts;
We have unjustly suspected others of wrongdoing;
We have desecrated the Shabbat;
We have not paid our debts;
We have desired (in an unhealthy manner) the possessions of others...
We have "attached" ourselves to falsehood; lying has become a part of our lives;
We have accused others falsely;
We have compounded lies by lying more;
We have hung out with the "wrong crowd"
We have given erroneous opinions and advice;
We have defiled ourselves and others;
We have handled Muktza on Shabbat or Yom Tov;
We have belittled Good and chosen Bad...
We have given evil counsel;
We have abused the trust of others;
We have advised others in ways that are not in their best interest;
We have secluded ourselves improperly with members of the opposite sex;
We have joined others in time-wasting activities;
We have knowingly sinned;
We have lacked proper reverence & awe for G-d...
We have been deceitful; made intentionally misleading statements;
We have made false promises;
We have have not tried hard enough to keep our promises
We have made HaShem angry at us;
We have been ungrateful; intended to harm others (even if we didn't follow through);
We nhave wasted time;
We have delayed paying wages;
We have called others derogatory nicknames...
We have clowned around about matters that we should have treated seriously;
We have ridiculed good people; we've made a joke of things, preventing us from proper repentance, because we don't take things seriously enough;
We have not learned Torah properly;
We have worn Shaatnez;
We have not been kind & charitable;
We have not been meticulous about mitzvot & halacha;
We have not been scrupulous in our dealings with others...
We have rebelled;
We have defied G-d's will;
We have sinned because of lack of complete faith
We have held others back from doing mitzvot; not behaved properly in business...
We have angered G-d by disregarding His mitzvot, etc.
We violated promises and vows; took revenge and bore grudges;
We have benefited from this world without offering brachot;
We were lazy in Torah learning and service to HaShem...
We have turned away, ignored our responsibilities to G-d (and to our fellows)
We have turned from Jewish customs, contradicted our parents or Torah authorities;
We have dealt with contraband;
We have forgiven others in word, but not in our hearts...
We have been perverse and have sinned because of perverted reasoning;
We have deliberately sinned to gratify our desires;
We have been falsely modest; a burden to our spouse;
We were insensitive to orphans and widows;
We have violated (minor) prohibitions...
We have acted wantonly;
We have denied the validity of (some) mitzvot;
We basically believe in G-d and Torah, but have disregarded specific mitvot;
We have rejected the Yoke of Heaven;
We were afraid to reproach someone;
We turned our hearts to idleness;
We opened someone else's mail;
We lacked fear of sin...
We have persecuted others, caused others to suffer, been callous to others;
We have distressed our family members;
We put our needs before G-d's...
We have been stubborn;
We have refused to see G-d's Hand in life;
We have ignored or denied that what happens in this world is not chance, but G-d's Will;
We have been jealous of others;
We have been stingy with charity;
We have read improper books;
We have listened to and accepted Lashon HaRa;
We have not been careful with Kriyat Sh'ma...
We have been wicked and done sins that are particularly identified with wickedness,
such as hitting others,stealing, and planning to sin
We have pursued honors;
We have quarreled for no good reason;
We have run after temptations...
We have corrupted our character; we have been arrogant; we have been extremely angry; we have been vulgar--all sins which affect one's character;
We have lied;
We have forgotten G-d and our commitment to Him;
We were silent when we should have objected;
We gloated over another's misfortune;
We have hated others;
We have squandered physical and spiritual energies...
We have been abominable; we have become loathsome to G-d through; immorality, idolatry, haughtiness and anger;
We have desired sinful things;
We have belittled the Torah;
We did not take the opportunity to repent;
We were not careful with our T'filin;
We were sloppy with davening...
We have strayed, drifted further away from G-d, rather than getting closer to Him;
We lost the merit to benefit from G-d's help;
We have misused freedom of choice for ourselves and caused others to do the same.
We have veered from Your mitzvot and good rules, and that hasn't been worth it at all. We acknowledge that Your judgments against us are just, because You act truthfully and we have brought evil upon ourselves. Even so, please forgive us...
And it goes on from there... it goes ON...
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Posted by: E1st at October 3, 2006 5:35 PM