One of the main steps in the process of teshuva (repentance) is for penitents to confess their sins and verbalize their errors. In so doing, those who seek forgiveness for committing a sin, confess, not to someone who happens to hear, but, more importantly, to themselves.

On Yom Kippur, there is a special service of confession, known as Vidui, that is an integral part of each of the five prayer services that are recited during the day. The great sages recognized how difficult it is for people to recall all of their improper actions over the past year, so they created a formula to help people understand the consequences of some of their actions.

The most prominent section of the Vidui is the section known as Ahl Chayt. Each verse begins with the phrase “Ahl chayt sheh’chah’tah’noo l’fah’neh’chah…” “For the sin we committed before You…” and then enumerates a general transgression. While reciting the Vidui service, it is customary to stand in a humbled position, with the head lowered. Upon reciting each Ahl Chayt, the supplicant strikes the left side of his/her chest with his/her right hand.

Due to space limitations, Jewish Treats can provide only a sampling of some of the confessions from the Vidui service:

“For the sin we committed before You without knowledge, and for the sin we committed before You with an utterance of the lips.”

“For the sin we committed before You with wicked speech, and for the sin we committed before You by scoffing.”

“For the sin we committed before You in business dealings, and for the sin we committed before You in eating and drinking.”

When the prayer leader repeats the confessional service out loud, the Ahl Chayt section of the Vidui is divided into three sections. Between each section the prayer leader, and then the congregation, sing: “And for all of these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, grant us atonement.”

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