When one begins to look at the task of teshuva (repentance), it can be overwhelming. We've made so many mistakes this past year that it's hard to know where to begin! Clearly, if we don't have an excellent system for tackling this project, it will be very time consuming, draining -- and ultimately unproductive.
In Judaism we say that if you can get to the root of the problem, you can eliminate it entirely. That is the goal of the "Al Chet" prayer that we say so many times during Yom Kippur services. These 44 statements are not a list of mistakes, but rather identify the roots of mistakes.
We'll examine the "Al Chet" prayer, one statement at a time. But remember: "Change" is a process that doesn't happen immediately. Don't try to conquer too many things at once; it may be too overwhelming. Instead, choose the areas that cut closest to the root of your problems. This will maximize your success in the Teshuva process.
1. For the mistakes we committed before You under duress and willingly.
How can we be held accountable for mistakes committed under duress?! The answer is that sometimes, we get into compromising situations because we are not careful. Many of these "accidents" can be avoided by setting limitations to avoid temptation.
Ask yourself:
Duress:
Did I put myself into compromising situations, and then when I got into trouble rationalize by saying it was "unavoidable" or "accidental"?
Have I tried making "fences" so that I won't transgress?
Have I considered setting up a penalty system as a deterrent against certain mistakes?
When I legitimately got into an unavoidable situation, did I stop to consider why God might want me to experience this particular challenge?
Willingly:
Did I make mistakes because I was lazy, or because my lower, animalistic urges were getting the better of me?
2. For the mistakes we committed before You through having a hard heart.
Hardening of the heart means that I closed myself off to deep, human emotions like compassion and caring. The newspapers and streets seem so filled with one tragic story after another, that I can become desensitized to the whole idea of human suffering.
Ask yourself:
Did I ignore the poor and the weak?
When I did give charity, was it done enthusiastically or begrudgingly?
Was I kind, compassionate and loving when my family and friends needed me to be?
Do I feel the pain of Jews who are assimilating, and of how that impacts the Jewish nation as a whole?
3. For the mistakes we committed before You without thinking (or without knowledge).
Every day, we should pray to God for the ability to think and reason. A clear mind is integral to our growth and development. If we're riding in a car and staring aimlessly out the window, then for those precious moments we are nothing more than zombies.
Ask yourself:
Do I carefully examine my society and surroundings, weighing out what is right and what is wrong?
Do I constantly review my major goals in life?
Do I strive for a constant awareness of the presence of God?
Is one of my goals in life to be a "thinking" individual?
4. For the mistakes we committed before You through things we blurted out with our lips.
A wise man once said, "You don't have to say everything you think." The Talmud says that when we speak, our lips and teeth should act as "gates," controlling whatever flows out.
Ask yourself:
Do I think before I speak?
Am I prone to thoughtless outbursts?
Do I make hasty promises that I am unlikely to fulfill?
5. For the mistake we committed before You in public and in private.
Ask yourself:
Public:
Did I do foolish or degrading things to attract attention or approval?
On the other hand, did I do good deeds in public -- that I would otherwise not have done -- simply so that others would see me?
Private:
Did I act privately in a way that I would be ashamed if anyone found out?
Did I consider how God is watching even in my most private moments?
Did I convince myself that because nobody sees me, the mistakes somehow don't count?
6. For the mistakes we committed before You through immorality.
When the Torah speaks of immorality, it usually refers to sexual immorality. Since sex is the strongest human drive (next to survival itself), it can therefore be used to achieve the greatest degree of holiness, or -- as we so often witness -- the greatest degree of debasement.
Ask yourself:
Did I speak or act in a way that lowered sexuality as a vehicle for spiritual connection?
Do I realize how sexual immorality reduces the spiritual potential of future, more holy unions?
7. For the mistakes we committed before You through harsh speech.
Speech is the unique human faculty, and is the way we build bridges between each other -- and through prayer, with God. That's why abuse of speech is considered one of the gravest mistakes possible.
Ask yourself:
Did I speak to anyone in a harsh and forceful manner?
Did I gossip?
Did I engage in idle chatter that wasted my time and that of others?
Did I seek opportunities to elevate others with an encouraging word?
8. For the mistakes we committed before You with knowledge and deceit.
As we know, knowledge is a powerful tool -- and a dangerous weapon when misused.
Ask yourself:
Did I use knowledge of a certain situation to deceive others?
Did I use knowledge to deceive myself -- i.e. did I rationalize away my bad actions?
Did I use knowledge to circumvent the spirit of the law?
Did I use knowledge to show off and impress others?
9. For the mistakes we committed before You through inner thoughts.
The Talmud says that "Bad thoughts are (in one way) even worse than bad deeds." This is because from a spiritual perspective, "thoughts" represent a higher dimension of human activity. ("Thoughts" are rooted in the spiritual world; "deeds" are rooted in the physical world.)
Ask yourself:
Did I think in a negative way about people, or wish bad upon them?
Did I fantasize about doing bad deeds?
10. For the mistakes we committed before You through wronging a friend.
"Friendship" is one of the highest forms of human activity. When we reach out and connect with others, we experience the unity of God's universe, and bring the world closer to perfection.
Ask yourself:
Did I strive to go out of my way to help friends, based on my commitment to be their friend?
Was I insensitive toward my friends' needs, or did I hurt their feelings?
Did I take advantage of someone who trusted me as a friend?
Did I check my email or answer my cell phone while listening to a friend, thus denying them my full attention?
Have I made a conscious effort to become a better friend?
11. For the mistakes we committed before You through insincere confession.
On Yom Kippur when we say each line of the "Al Chet" prayer, we gently strike our heart -- as if to say that it was "passion and desire" that led to these mistakes. Do we really mean it?
Ask yourself:
Did I ever apologize without being sincere?
Have I committed myself to "change" without seriously following up?
12. For the mistakes we committed before You while gathering to do negative things.
Engaging in evil as a lone individual is bad enough. But just as the secular courts treat "conspiracy" more seriously, so too God despises the institutionalizing of bad habits.
Ask yourself:
Am I part of a regular group that discusses negative things?
Did I participate in a gathering that led to negative activities?
Am I careful to associate only with moral and ethical people?
13. For the mistakes we committed before You willfully and unintentionally.
Willfully:
Did I ever "act out" in a desire to demonstrate my independence from God?
Unintentionally:
Did I make mistakes out of carelessness? Could they have been avoided?
14. For the mistakes we committed before You by degrading parents and teachers.
Parents and teachers are our first authority figures in life, and by way of association they teach us how to be respectful toward God and His mitzvot. The breakdown of respect for parents and teachers corrodes the moral core of society.
Ask yourself:
Parents:
Do I sometimes think poorly of my parents?
Do I ever actually communicate a dislike toward them?
Do I make the effort to appreciate how much my parents have done for me?
If I were a parent, what would I want from my children? Am I giving that now to my parents?
Do I give special attention to the needs of the elderly?
Teachers:
Have I maximized opportunities to learn from rabbis and teachers?
Have I actively sought the guidance and counsel of wise people?
15. For the mistakes we committed before You by exercising power.
God apportions to everyone exactly what they need: whether wealth, intelligence, good fortune, etc. Only when we feel our position is independent of God do we seek to dominate others for our own advantage.
Ask yourself:
Did I take advantage of those who are weak -- either physically, economically or politically?
Did I manipulate or intimidate someone into doing something he'd really rather not have?
16. For the mistakes we committed before You through desecrating God's name.
As a "Light Unto the Nations," every Jew is a messenger of God in this world, responsible to project a positive image.
Ask yourself:
Did I ever act in a way that brought less honor and respect to God?
Did I ever act in way that gave a bad impression about what it means to be a Jew?
Did I take every opportunity to enlighten others about the beauty of Torah?
17. For the mistakes we committed before You with foolish speech.
People have a habit of talking for talking's sake. When we're bored, we may get on the phone, and "talk and talk and talk." Don't talk without a purpose. In any conversation ask yourself: "Is there any point to this conversation? Am I learning anything? Am I growing?" If you can't identify the point, there probably is none.
Ask yourself:
Did I waste time by talking about trivial things?
Do I seek to share words of Torah at every opportunity?
18. For the mistakes we committed before You with vulgar speech.
Did you ever find yourself in the middle of a distasteful joke? It can be insidious, but all of a sudden you find yourself dragged into a discussion that has taken a turn for the worse. Learn to switch tracks. Monitor your conversations, and when you notice them slipping off track, pull them back, gently and subtly.
Ask yourself:
Did I contaminate my mouth with vulgar speech?
Did I listen to vulgar speech or jokes?
Did I protest when I heard vulgar speech?
Do I always express myself in the most pleasant way possible?
19. For the mistakes we committed before You with the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination).
The Yetzer Hara is that little voice inside each of us that tries to convince us to pursue physical comfort, at the expense of greater spiritual pleasures.
Ask yourself:
Have I pursued my physical drives for their own sake -- without involving any spiritual dimension?
Do I resort to the excuse that "I couldn't help myself"?
Have I studied Torah techniques for channeling physical drives into holiness?
20. For the mistakes we committed before You against those who know, and those that do not know.
Ask yourself:
Have I wronged people behind their backs?
Have I wronged people to their faces?
21. For the mistakes we committed before You through bribery.
Bribery is most subversive because we are often not aware of how it affects our decisions. In the words of the Torah, bribery is "blinding."
Ask yourself:
Have I compromised my honesty and integrity because of money?
Have I compromised myself for the sake of honor and flattery?
Have I failed to do the right thing because I wanted approval?
22. For the mistakes we committed before You through denial and false promises.
The mark of a great person is a meticulous commitment to truth -- despite whatever hardships, embarrassment, or financial loss might be involved.
Ask yourself:
Have I lied to myself?
Have I lied to others?
Does my job ever involve having to lie?
Have I rationalized the acceptability of a "white lie?"
23. For the mistakes we committed before You through negative speech (Loshon Hara).
It is said that big people talk about ideas, medium people talk about places and things, and little people talk about people. Gossip causes quarrel and division amongst people -- and tears apart relationships, families, and even entire communities. As King Solomon said: "Life and death are in the hands of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).
Ask yourself:
Do I enjoy gossip?
When I hear gossip, do I accept it as true, or do I reserve judgment?
Have I set aside time to study Jewish law on how to avoid Loshon Hara?
24. For the mistakes we committed before You through being scornful (or scoffing).
Ask yourself:
Did I mock and ridicule serious things?
Did I make fun of someone who I considered less intelligent or attractive?
Did I shrug off constructive criticism as meaningless?
25. For the mistakes we committed before You in business.
Integrity is the mark of every great person. The Talmud says that the first question a person is asked upon arriving in heaven is: "Did you deal honestly in business?"
Ask yourself:
Have I been scrupulously honest in all my financial transactions?
Was I harsh in trying to beat the competition, or did I seek ways for us both to thrive?
Have I chosen a career that gives me freedom to pursue my personal and spiritual goals as well?
When I was successful in business, did I show my appreciation to God for that success?
26. For the mistakes we committed before You with food and drink.
Eating is such an essential human activity, that the rabbis say all of a person's character traits are revealed at the dinner table.
Ask yourself:
Did I eat in order to gain energy to do mitzvot, or did I eat for the sake of the animalistic act alone?
What secondary activity did I do while eating: Did I read the paper and watch TV, or did I engage in meaningful conversation?
Have I made every effort to eat kosher food?
Did I express gratitude to God for providing me with the food?
Did I overeat?
Did I eat unhealthy foods?
Did I waste food?
27. For the mistakes we committed before You through interest and extortion.
Gaining financial advantage because someone else is destitute shows poor character. That is why the Torah forbids loaning money to another Jew on interest.
Ask yourself:
Have I made a profit as a result of someone else's misfortune or downfall?
Am I greedy?
Am I stingy?
Do I feel responsible for helping to satisfy the needs of others?
Do I appreciate the Torah prohibition against charging interest -- and have I studied these laws?
28. For the mistakes we committed before You by being arrogant.
The trait the Torah uses to describe Moses is "the most humble man." Humility is a key to spiritual growth, because it allows us to make room in our life for other people - and for God.
Ask yourself:
Have I made others feel lowly in order to raise myself higher?
Do I dress and speak in a way that draws extra attention to myself?
When walking through a door, do I usually go first, or let others go first?
29. For the mistakes we committed before You with eye movements.
Sometimes we can harm others without even saying a word. For instance, the Talmud discusses the illegality of staring into someone else's home or yard.
Ask yourself:
Did I look at someone else's private things that were not my business?
Did I gawk at an accident scene on the freeway?
Did I look at the opposite gender in an inappropriate and disrespectful way?
Did I signal my disdain for another person by rolling my eyes?
30. For the mistakes we committed before You with endless babbling.
Often we feel uncomfortable with silence, so we fill the time with meaningless chatter. The Torah tells us, however, that more than anywhere, God is found in the sound of silence.
Ask yourself:
Do I participate in conversations with no meaningful content?
Do I think before speaking and measure my words carefully?
Do I forward inane emails and post trivial content online?
Am I careful to concentrate when reciting prayers and blessings?
31. For the mistakes we committed before You with haughty eyes.
The Talmud says that a person's eyes are the "window to the soul." An arrogant person is therefore referred to as having "haughty eyes."
Ask yourself:
Do I communicate warmth and care to people with my eyes?
Have I avoided interacting with certain people because I felt they were too unimportant for me?
Have my career and relationships suffered because my ego is over-inflated?
32. For the mistakes we committed before You with a strong forehead (brazenness).
The Talmud says there are three traits which characterize Jews: kindness, compassion and shame. "Shame" means feeling embarrassed and remorseful when doing something wrong.
Ask yourself:
Do I examine the moral consequences before making difficult decisions?
Do I appreciate how my moral behavior defines me as a human being?
Have I studied what Judaism says about conscience and morality?
33. For the mistakes we committed before You in throwing off the yoke (i.e. refusing to accept responsibility).
Judaism defines greatness as having a greater degree of responsibility. Deep down this is what every human being wants -- hence the excitement over a promotion or raising a family.
Ask yourself:
Have I accepted family responsibilities, and gladly assisted whenever needed?
Do I keep my commitments to friends?
Do I show up on time?
Would my colleagues describe me as "reliable and dependable?"
Have I taken responsibility for the problems in my community?
Have I accepted my unique responsibilities in this world as a Jew?
34. For the mistakes we committed before You in judgment.
The Torah tells us it is a mitzvah to be dan li-kaf zechus -- to judge people favorably. This means, for example, that when someone shows up an hour late, rather than assume they were irresponsible, I should rather try to get all the facts, and in the meantime, imagine that perhaps they were delayed by uncontrollable circumstances.
Ask yourself:
Am I in the habit of judging people favorably?
Do I wait to make any determination until I have all the information?
Do I sometimes "judge" God unfairly?
35. For the mistakes we committed before You in entrapping a friend.
Ask yourself:
Have I violated the trust of people who have confidence in me?
Have I divulged confidential information?
Have I taken advantage of family and friends by manipulating them into doing me favors?
36. For the mistakes we committed before You through jealousy (lit: "a begrudging eye").
Someone who has a "good eye" will sincerely celebrate the success of others, while someone with an "evil eye" will begrudge the success of others.
Ask yourself:
Do I experience resentment at the success of others, or do I experience genuine joy?
Do I feel that others are undeserving of their success?
Do I secretly wish to have my neighbor's things for myself?
37. For the mistakes we committed before You through light-headedness.
Sometimes we can forget that life is serious. We're born, and we die. What have we made of our lives? Have we been focused on meaningful goals, or are we steeped in trivial pursuits?
Ask yourself:
Do I spend time reading unimportant sections of the newspaper, or listening to frivolity on the radio?
Do I spend time with friends and colleagues discussing inconsequential details of sports and entertainment?
Do I waste countless hours on the Internet with no goal or purpose in mind?
Do I act with proper reverence when in a synagogue or learning Torah?
Do I speak about Biblical personalities and our Jewish Sages with the proper respect?
38. For the mistakes we committed before You by being stiff-necked.
In the Torah, God refers to the Jewish people as "stiff-necked." This is a positive attribute in the sense that we are not easily swayed by fad and fashion. Yet on the negative side, we can also be unreasonably stubborn.
Ask yourself:
When I'm involved in a disagreement, am I frequently anxious and upset, rather than calm and rational?
Do I think that I'm always right? Do I usually let the other person speak first, or do I always want to speak first?
Do I listen attentively to the other side?
Have I been single-minded and lost my objectivity just because I really wanted something?
39. For the mistakes we committed before You by running to do evil.
Ask yourself:
When I transgressed the Torah, did I do so eagerly?
Did I run to do mitzvot with the same enthusiasm?
Did I slow down when reciting blessings and prayers?
After completing a certain obligation, do I run out as fast as possible?
40. For the mistakes we committed before You by telling people what others said about them.
Ask yourself:
Have I encouraged contention, and turned people against each other?
Did I reveal secrets?
Have I studied the Jewish laws prohibiting such speech?
41. For the mistakes we committed before You through vain oath taking.
One of the Ten Commandments is "not to take God's Name in vain." Integral to our relationship with God is the degree to which we show Him proper respect.
Ask yourself:
Have I been careful not to utter God's Name casually? (Or worse yet: "I swear to G--!”)
When I use God's Name in a blessing or prayer, do I concentrate on the deeper meaning of His Name?
Have I sworn or promised falsely while invoking God's Name?
42. For the mistakes we committed before You through baseless hatred.
The Talmud tells us that more than any other factor, hatred among Jews has been the cause of our long and bitter exile. Conversely, Jewish unity and true love between us is what will hasten our redemption.
Ask yourself:
Was I disrespectful toward Jews who are not exactly like me in practice or philosophy?
When I disagree with someone on an issue, have I let it degrade into a dislike for the person himself?
When I saw a fellow Jew do evil, did I hate only the deed, or did it extend into a hatred for the person himself?
When someone wronged me, was I eager to take revenge?
When someone wronged me, did I bear a grudge?
43. For the mistakes we committed before You in extending the hand.
Ask yourself:
Have I withheld from touching things that don't belong to me?
Have I stretched forth my hand to the poor and the needy?
Have I joined hands with wicked people?
Have I extended my hand to help in community projects?
44. For the mistakes we committed before You through confusion of the heart.
The Sages tell us that ultimately all mistakes stem from a confusion of the heart. This is why on Yom Kippur we tap our chest as we go through this list of "Al Chet's."
Ask yourself:
Have I not worked out issues because of laziness?
Have I made mistakes because I emotionally did not want to accept what I logically knew to be correct?
Have I properly developed my priorities and life goals?
Am I continually focused on them?
(33) Ellen Prentice, September 28, 2020 6:49 PM
Beautiful study to really understand the Al Chet
I’m not Jewish but I’m a Christian and having the same Torah I find your ability to understand the Torah so profound. My husband has had the blessing of working in a company owed by Jews so we have the privilege of resting this day of Yom Kippur . I love to also follow these traditions. Thank you for explaining the Al Chet so well and for the reflexions given. God bless the Jewish people's and Israel
(32) Judith wisnia, September 28, 2020 4:58 PM
Makes me feel good
Very impressive
(31) William C. Levenson, September 27, 2020 4:53 PM
Wisdom
Great. True wisdom for repentance and daily living. Keep it coming.
(30) Jeanne A. Amato, September 27, 2020 11:35 AM
I will read this every day.
This is wonderful. I feel it will be a great help to me.
(29) cynthia, September 27, 2020 5:36 AM
Al Chet Prayer for Yom Kippur
Thank You Aish for Posting the 44 what does it all means article. It really TOUCHED me, It made me look at things and situations in my life that need to be revised. Thank you for helping me to become a better person in eye's of God. , and that I may be a help to someone to comfort them. Yom Kippur is a special time to make new changes, and let go of things that does not matter, and Look to HaShem, giving Hashem the PRAISE. Thank you HaShem for making me a better person. Thank you for Aish, BLESS YOU
(28) Bruce Burdick, September 19, 2020 5:41 PM
In the Al Chet Prayer might we consider two of our biggest modern day challenges?
In the Al Chet Prayer might we consider two of our biggest modern day challenges? For the mistakes we committed before You through confusion of the heart. The Sages tell us that ultimately all mistakes stem from a confusion of the heart. This is why on Yom Kippur we tap our chest as we go through this list of "Al Chet's." Ask yourself: Have I properly developed my priorities and life goals? Do I need to speak out more against nuclear weapons? A nuclear war with 100 nuclear weapons will threaten the lives of 2 billion people. (1) The United States has 5,800 nuclear weapons, and there are 13,500 nuclear weapons world wide. Do I need to stop contributing to global warming and climate change? When I emit more than 14.4 pounds of CO2 per day, I am contributing to global warming and climate change. The green plants of the world sequester about 14.4 pounds of CO2 per day for each of us, and then the rest goes to helping warm the earth and help make California wild fires larger and more destructive.
(27) Anonymous, October 9, 2019 5:47 PM
Appreciation: thank you for publishing insightful questions
Basically, I am a secular Jew who has not studied Torah and therefore feel uneducated vis a vis my religion. My parents were deaf mutes & whatever I learned about Judaism from my mother was very limited. During my youth, my family never had a seder, just a Pesach meal & not as the large family that existed, so I feel as though I really missed out. As for Shabbat services, my family did not attend, perhaps attending high holy day services. My mom would travel into Manhattan on Yom Kippur to attend services for the deaf. I feel that I have missed out.
(26) Anonymous, September 19, 2018 5:16 PM
thank you and suggestions?
Hi - this expansion on the Al Cheit list is absolutley wonderful - so thoughtful and important. I printed it out to go through during the silent prayers in Shul.
If you have time, perhaps you could consider 2 suggestions?
1. I love the way you wrote mistake in the English - it's appropriate. Even so, could you please add in the source Hebrew line next to each number? I was trying to keep the place in my Machson and on the paper, going back and forth to say the Al Cheit line, and then read and think about the points you make, and it was hard.
2. As I was going through the list (back&forth) it seemed that the order of the some of the letters was flipped. I mean, it IS in order of the Aleph Beis, but at least in my machzor I would have the 2 Daled lines (for example) flipped - this also made it a little harder to use. I ended up saying the second letter first and the first letter second if that was what matched your list. I'm sure it doesn't matter to Hashem - it was just a little more complicated for me. If this was the order in your machzor then never mind, you don't have to davka match my specific nusach.
thank you for all your time and creative efforts and work.
shana tova
(25) Tzivia, September 18, 2018 1:41 AM
EXCELLENT WORK!!!
1. Did i have/use Legit.heter to relax w lightness for mental health..(i.e..did tht get defined clear enough to me wo/ doubts of treifness...did I make enough efforts to clarify inyan... 2.Didnt c 6 constant mitzvos put in 3.Didnt c to say actual wrds "eating lshem .." As sh. Aruch..and kitz. Says nec. 4. Also p.avis "MUST have dvar torah w/at least 2 eating together"
(24) sarah, September 29, 2017 8:33 PM
thanks
our whole family used this on yom kipur! we printed out 7 copies. thank you!
(23) Anonymous, May 25, 2016 12:17 PM
The problem of too much guilt?
Question- how do we avoid the problem of experiencing too much guilt, which leads to depression and feeling really down on ourselves? For such a person, reading vidduy can feel like feeding into an already self-destructive pattern.
(22) Jon, September 17, 2015 8:33 AM
stretching out hand
Second to the last sin is against embezzlement, not charity
(21) Joshua, October 4, 2014 1:07 AM
For me, the heart of Yom Kippur
This "slow march" through the al-Cheit, along with the example questions of how to apply each atonement has helped me rach deeper into the state of atonement for actual mistakes I have made in the past year, and equipped me with greater perspective so that I may avoid such mistakes in the coming year. Thank you.
(20) e, September 18, 2013 12:10 AM
Great Reflection prayer
For the past couple years, I have used the Al Chet for deep reflection on myself. It truly helps me to reveal some aspects (character defects) I need to work on to be a better person.
(19) Joe, September 15, 2013 3:24 AM
Fostering serious self-examination since 2003...
I spent a fair bit of time going over this article this afternoon at home, in between taking care of our son.
This article isn't for wimps. It will force you to think hard.
But if you take the time to think about each question, and try to think of concrete examples in your life, you will be well rewarded for it.
(18) Anonymous, September 24, 2012 8:02 PM
on-the-spot
a real eye opener. saying viduy will not the same after reading this. thanks a lot!
(17) Anonymous, September 24, 2012 12:36 AM
al chet
Thank-you for such a learning experience. I will be rereading this throughout the holiday and perhaps the year. So simply put and so powerful in its meaning. The prayer is so much more important to me now.
(16) Anonymous, October 6, 2011 3:33 PM
thank you for this article. it has really helped me prepare my viduy for this coming yom kippur.
(15) Anonymous, October 6, 2011 12:35 AM
very helpful
For the past couple of years I have been going through this list of explanations of the Al Chet's before Yom Kippur and found it extremely helpful. Thank you Rabbi Simmons!
Gab, October 6, 2011 10:05 PM
helpful indeed
I second that previous comment! Been using it yearly for the past 3-4 years and always return to it each erev yom kippur.
(14) Anonymous, October 2, 2011 11:13 PM
source
where is this from? It is fascnating material
(13) Judi Curl, September 21, 2010 2:20 AM
Thank you for posting this
It helps to understand what the prayer actually means. I am looking for the origin on this prayer and especially the song. It has a haunting melody. Do you know its origin? Thank you and Shalom.
(12) Emmunah, June 27, 2006 12:00 AM
Thank you
This is a great help to having the faith and understanding when leading our daily lives. It helps to bring us one step closer to being who we are to be .
(11) Jean-Victor Côté, October 9, 2005 12:00 AM
The Devil is in the details
Thanks for a checklist against evildoing.
(10) Anonymous, September 25, 2004 12:00 AM
this is great and verry good
(9) Anonymous, September 25, 2004 12:00 AM
this helped a lot
I studied this before I began my vidui prayer and I must say it greatly increased my kavana. Thank you.
(8) sorah klein, September 24, 2004 12:00 AM
wow!
Rabbi Simmons,
I enjoy all your articles but this one tops the cake. I am reading it now - erev yom kippur so i can be properly prepared and i will save it in my machzor for future years to have and reveiew. thank you and gmar chasimah tovah!
(7) Anonymous, September 23, 2004 12:00 AM
Thank you
Thank you for helping me understand the 'Al Chets' in such a clear and practical way. I feel much more prepared for Yom Kippur now that I've read your article and took notes on it to keep in my machzor.
(6) racheli, September 23, 2004 12:00 AM
you rule!!! keep up the good work!!! have an easy fast
(5) Dr Jose Nigrin, September 23, 2004 12:00 AM
The Teschuva of the "Al Chet"
This is a wonderful exposition of "Al Chet" or 44 mistakes we do during the years lived. I humbly watch in Yom kipur day, the 44 beatings on the chest, for each of the "Al Chet" mistakes, the rabi and the congregation make, when hearing them, during the Yom Kipur services.
(4) Vera Collins, September 21, 2004 12:00 AM
Thank you, Rabbi Shraga. Soul-searching is no easy task and one wonders if one is giving in full measure what is required on Yom Kippur. Being able to consider how I have reacted, over the past year, in the case of each shortcoming, with complete honesty, is a helpful and reassuring way of preparing for Yom Kippur.
Chatima Tovah.
(3) Tzivia Tabak, September 20, 2004 12:00 AM
finally someone came along
Finally someone came along and opened our eyes to the one most important tfilah of the day repeated five times, banging our chests, and hardly knowing what to think or feel. I just printed the article and placed it neatly in my Yom Kippur machzer. What a relief and encouragement to have something to read all day long that I finally understand and can apply to my very own life. Heartfelt thanks to you Rabbi,Yasher koiach, and may you be sealed in the golden book of long life and go from chayil to chayil in your quest for true spiritual growth.
Tzivia Tabak
(2) Anonymous, September 19, 2004 12:00 AM
Clear and thoughtful
It was a pleasure to read. Very clear; and written in a manner that was not an admonition. I really enjoy it. Thank you rabbi!!!
(1) Marilyn Benshetler, September 16, 2003 12:00 AM
Thank you so much for making this information available on the web. I
belong to a Havurah, and each of us is responsible for preparing part of
our services. After many years of trying to be creative, it's difficult
to find an approach that will make us think and learn. Approaching the
Al Chet in the manner you've presented is sure to make an impression and
help us in striving to be better.
Sincere good wishes for a happy, healthy New Year,
Marilyn Benshetler