(1) Tarah 9/20/2007 9:41:00 AM
Important thoughts.....
This idea's of guilt being debilitating is so true and rather viewing our mistakes with regret that causes us to make change. It gives us something to work back to & doesn't completely diminish our dignity. So good, thank-you & look forward to hearing more!


(2) Wayne 9/16/2007 9:05:00 PM
Guilt more than a feeling
Guilt is much more than a feeling. When you have transgressed the law, whether G-d's law or the government's law, you are guilty, whether you feel it or not. And for some people, selfishness is not a mistake; it's how they chose to act. The cure for guilt is restitution, righting the wrong that was done. If the wrong can't be righted, (as in Melech David's murder of Uriah), then only G-d in His mercy can remove the guilt. When confronted by the prophet, David did not say "I made a mistake." He said, "I have sinned." He didn't just FEEL guilty-- he was guilty, and he knew it. He didn't ask the L-rd to overlook his mistake-- he asked for forgiveness for his sin.


(3) Robert M. Miller 9/16/2007 8:09:00 PM

This message needs to be shown to as many people as possible. It gives a powerful understanding of what judaism is about, and the wisdom of our sages.

(4) yaakov 9/16/2007 6:25:00 PM
No Guilt???
What about the famous chliched Jewish's mother's guilt. There's plenty of that.


(5) Anonymous 9/16/2007 6:04:00 PM
nice message but doesn't match the liturgy.
The conflict many of us have is with the liturgy. One cannot help but approach the day with fear even if you generally feel good about you self and your behavior. Much of this feel good commentary would set better if the Machzur agreed.


(6) Michal 9/16/2007 4:55:00 PM
It sounded in my ears like: I have a present for you
How happy we are to be Jews!
It is such a difference between guilt/sin and chet. Chet=I missed the target. I am sorry about it. It took a burden from my heart, all the fright because Yom Kippur is near. Yes, many times during the last year I missed the target, but I am not bad. With Gods help next year I might be much better in shooting my arrows. So instead of feeling miserable, I am glad and full of hope. Baruch Hashem!