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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.
I understand the Hebrew חטא / chet to mean "aiming for what's right and missing the mark." I find our usual English shorthand translation uncomfortably loaded, but haven't found a concise replacement yet...) The traditional vidui (a confessional prayer consisting of two parts, ashamnu and al chet; learn more here) is in first person plural.
(The "Al Chet" confession of sins is said ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services: Following the Amidah of the afternoon prayers of the day before Yom Kippur; just before sunset on Yom Kippur Eve; and twice during each of the following services—the evening service of yom Kippur eve, and the morning service, the Musaf service and the afternoon service of Yom Kippur day—once at ...
Al Chet An Intentional Al Chet Al Chet is a confession of wrongdoings recited on Yom Kippur. The list recounts times we have missed the mark, and communally we take responsibility. As the great Chassidic Master Zusya lay crying on his deathbed, his students and admirers came to him and asked, “Rebbe, why are you so sad?
Al Chet Prayer This document summarizes the 44 statements in the "Al Chet" prayer said on Yom Kippur, which identify the root causes of mistakes rather than listing specific mistakes. It explains that the areas identified cut to the root of problems and addressing them can maximize success in the repentance process.
Al Chet prayer from The Complete Art Scroll Machzor - Yom Kippur pp.687-691. For a commentary on an interpretation of how to apply the Al Chet prayer in our lives today please read Exploring The Al Chet Prayer.
The section of High Holiday liturgy known as al chet has always been fascinating to me because it is a collective rather than an individual confession of sins. I ask forgiveness for these sins each year even though I know that I am guilty of some but not all of them. But I repeat them all every year. Why? Is there a sense in which each of us, on some level, is responsible and accountable for ...
Al Chet # 19 44 Roots of Mistakes by George Brock The Sin: The Mistakes we committed before You with the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination). The Yetzer Hara is that little voice inside each one of us- that tries to convince us to pursue 'physical comfort'; at the expense of a greater 'Spiritual pleasure'.
The two prayers, Ashamnu and Al Chet constitute the Jewish confession. You will observe that each of these confessional prayers is followed by prayers in which we seek forgiveness. Atonement is more than a wish for forgiveness; it is the desire to be at-one with God. To be at-one with God implies a desire to “bend our will to God, to observe His precepts and to revere His law in truth!”