Multiple times during the course of our Yom Kippur services we recite the confessional, the Viddui, and the Al Chets. Together, they describe a litany of sins so comprehensive and diverse that even a dedicated and industrious reprobate would be hard put to have committed all of them in the space of one year. And yet, we all recite the list, and we do so in the first person plural: we did this or we didn't do that. Why do we do this? Why do we confess to sins we know we did not commit, and why do we act as if all of us did them?
To begin with, let us consider the three steps required for true repentance: recognizing that we have transgressed, publicly declaring our sins, and then, when given the opportunity, not repeating our mistake. We pray for the wisdom to recognize the former, and the strength to do the latter. The central part however, the public confession, is probably the most difficult. Even if we come to realize that we have done something wrong, going before those who know us and with whom we interact every day and telling them of our shortcomings is scary. We are understandably hesitant to mar others’ good opinion of us or, God forbid, help confirm any bad ones.
The rabbis, ever keenly aware of human nature, were faced with the problem of reconciling our need to confess publicly with our reluctance to do so. The solution they devised is what we have today: a common, mass confession to everything. This way, since everyone confesses to every sin, no one need feel singled out for confessing to any one (or more). Only the individual and God need know which ones are applicable.
Still, this leaves the question of why most of us end up confessing to things we haven’t done. Even though we ourselves may not have done them, others in our community have, and we were unable to keep them from doing so. Each of us is responsible, one for the other, and we take ownership of what we may have been indirectly responsible for.
In this new year of 5779, may all of us achieve a perfect repentance and succeed in helping others to do the same. May we all be inscribed for a year of health, happiness, prosperity and growth in Torah. L’Shanah Tovah Um’tukah – A happy and sweet New Year.
Cantor Socoloff