One
of the best-known prayers during Yom Kippur is the Vidui, or Confession,
which we repeat during every service. Before we can feel sorry about our
mistakes, we have to admit to ourselves that we actually made them,
whether we know it or not. Many centuries ago, the rabbis made a list of
all sorts of mistakes, arranged by the letters of the alphabet.
Practically every mistake we could possibly make - and a few that we
probably didn't - appears on this list, which everyone recites together,
beating their chests each time they name a mistake.
One
of the best-known prayers during Yom Kippur is the Vidui, or Confession,
which we repeat during every service. Before we can feel sorry about our
mistakes, we have to admit to ourselves that we actually made them,
whether we know it or not. Many centuries ago, the rabbis made a list of
all sorts of mistakes, arranged by the letters of the alphabet.
Practically every mistake we could possibly make - and a few that we
probably didn't - appears on this list, which everyone recites together,
beating their chests each time they name a mistake.