In this year’s Yom Kippur’s service I encountered a few texts for the first time, which prompted me to reflect on the prayers we say every year. Looking at a different reading of the same prayer helped me engage with it in a personal way.
First was the interpretive text of Unetaneh Tokef, reminding of the inner processes of the self as opposed to the powers of nature.
The other one was the positive Vidui, which complements the list of our collective ingringements with a list of the good qualities and achievements.
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A very different Vidui
| We have loved, We have blessed, We have grown, We have spoken positively. | אָהַבְנוּ בֵּרַכְנוּ גָּדַלְנוּ דִּבַּרְנוּ יֹפִי |
| We have raised up, We have shown compassion, We have acted enthusiastically, We have been empathetic, We have cultivated truth. | הֶעֱלִינוּ וְחַסְנוּ זֵרַזְנוּ חָמַלְנוּ טִפַּחְנוּ אֱמֶת |
| We have given good advice, We have respected, We have learned, We have forgiven, We have comforted, We have been creative, We have stirred, We have been spiritual activists, We have been just, We have longed for Israel. | יָעַצְנוּ טוֺב כִּבַּדְנוּ לָמַדְנוּ מָחַלְנוּ נִחַמְנוּ סָלַלְנוּ עוֺרַרְנוּ פָּעַלְנוּ צָדַקְנוּ קִוִּינוּ לָאָרֶץ |
| We have been merciful, We have given full effort, We have supported, We have contributed, We have repaired. | רִחַמְנוּ שָׁקַדְנוּ תָּמַכְנוּ תָּרַמְנוּ תִּקַּנּוּ |
May the new year offer us opportunities for reflection and looking at familiar things with fresh eyes.