Yom Kippur and Happiness

                                                       Yom Kippur -- William Kurelek, 1975

This is Yom Kippur, the most solemn, reflective, penitential day in Judaism -- or at least what it seems to be from my admittedly limited Christian perspective. It is a day to acknowledge  wrongdoing and to seek forgiveness, which I think is healthy for all of us. It's not a matter of wallowing in shame or self-reproach. We acknowledge the ways in which we have turned from God and harmed others. We say we're sorry, express gratitude that we can be forgiven, and step forward in confidence that God loves us. I suppose our Christian equivalent is Ash Wednesday which includes Psalm 51. 

Yesterday David Frum tweeted  wishes for  a meaningful Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur to all observing and added As a cherished rabbi once explained in a sermon: "It's the happiest day of the year. God's going to forgive everybody who asks, it's printed right there at the end of the prayerbook."

Here is a prayer for this day which all of us can ponder. The "Al Chet" confession of sins is said ten times in the course of the Yom Kippur services and it covers just about everything!

 For the sin which we have committed before You under duress or willingly.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by hard-heartedness.

For the sin which we have committed before You inadvertently.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with an utterance of the lips.

For the sin which we have committed before You with immorality.

And for the sin which we have committed before You openly or secretly.

For the sin which we have committed before You with knowledge and with deceit.

And for the sin which we have committed before You through speech.

For the sin which we have committed before You by deceiving a fellowman.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by improper thoughts.

For the sin which we have committed before You by a gathering of lewdness.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by verbal [insincere] confession.

For the sin which we have committed before You by disrespect for parents and teachers.

And for the sin which we have committed before You intentionally or unintentionally.

For the sin which we have committed before You by using coercion.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by desecrating the Divine Name.

For the sin which we have committed before You by impurity of speech.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by foolish talk.

For the sin which we have committed before You with the evil inclination.

And for the sin which we have committed before You knowingly or unknowingly.

For the sin which we have committed before You by false denial and lying.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a bribe-taking or a bribe-giving hand.

For the sin which we have committed before You by scoffing.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by evil talk [about another].

For the sin which we have committed before You in business dealings. 

And for the sin which we have committed before You by eating  and drinking.

For the sin which we have committed before You by [taking or giving] interest and by usury.

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a haughty demeanor. 

For the sin which we have committed before You by the prattle of our lips. 

And for the sin which we have committed before You by a glance of the eye.

For the sin which we have committed before You with proud looks.

And for the sin which we have committed before You with impudence.

 For all these, God of pardon, pardon us, forgive us, atone for us.