My daughter posted this on her tumblr, and it is wonderful (it was originally posted by he-harim). Here’s the introduction:
On Yom Kippur, an important part of the liturgy is what is called a vidui: a confession. It lists sins, one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet: it opens “Ashamnu – We have incurred guilt, Bagadnu – we have betrayed, Gazlanu – we have stolen, Dibarnu dofi – we have spoken falsely, etc.“, (”… ,אָשַמנוּ, בָּגַדְנוּ, גָזֵלְנוּ”)
I heard of this positive vidui (vidui hamashlim) today. If you’re someone who struggles with the weight of all the sin and guilt you feel, you might want to read this to offer up some sort of a balance – although remember that Hashem will forgive you of all sins against Them today.
Multiple sources were quoted for this, so I’m not sure who actually wrote it.
Edit: It literally says Rav Kook and then what looks to be a citation (Mishnaic? maybe??) at the bottom, so that would be some sort of a clue.
Second edit: jewishhenna said: Isn’t this lovely? It was written by Binyamin Holtzman, the rabbi of Ma’ale Gilbo’a (his name is on the side in very small print). The Rav Kook quote is the piece at the bottom which inspired it.
Ahavnu – We have loved, Bachinu – we have cried, Gamalnu – we have given back, Dibarnu Yofi – we have spoken great things!
He’emanu – We have believed, V’hishtadalnu – and we have given our best effort, Zacharnu – we have remembered, Chibaknu – we have embraced, Ta’amnusefer – we have chanted Your book!
Yatzarnu – We have created, Kamanu – we have yearned, Lachamnuavur hatzedek – we have fought for justice!
Mitzinu et hatov – We have done all the good we could do, Nisinu – we have tried, Sarnu lirot – we have turned aside to see, Asinu asher tzvitanu – we have done as You have commanded us!
Peirashu – We have learned interpretations of Torah, Tzadaknu lifamim – sometimes we have even been righteous, Karanu b’shimcha – we have called out Your Name!
Ratzinu – We have been steadfast in our will, Samachnu – we have rejoiced, Tamachnu – we have been there to support one another.
