Martin H. van den Bergh

This coming Motzei Shabbat, Ashkenazim begin saying Selichot, while Sephardim have already been reciting them throughout the month of Ellul. Whatever tradition we follow, Selichot contain powerful prayers of repentance. They bring us together as a community to acknowledge our failings, confess our sins, and seek G-d’s forgiveness. We confess through Viddui and seek forgiveness through the Thirteen Attributes of God’s compassion, a prayer God gave to Moses after the sin of the Golden Calf. These two central prayers are interwoven with Piyutim—poems composed by sages known as Paytanim—and they also form a key part of the Yom Kippur liturgy. This is the time to recognize our shortcomings and resolve to correct them.

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The Rambam recognizes that it is easier to admit our faults as members of a community than as isolated individuals; accordingly, the Viddui, the confessional prayer, is written in the plural. In the same way, we seek God’s forgiveness as part of the Jewish community. The strength of our Jewish identity lies in belonging to the nation that received the Torah and entered into the Covenant at Mount Sinai. As the Torah states: “You stand this day all of you before the Lord your God” (Devarim 29:9). The Or HaChaim explains that every part of the Jewish People is included in this Covenant with God. We therefore all share the obligation to renew our connection with the Almighty and acknowledge Him as the King of Kings.

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Our prayers, especially now as we approach Rosh Hashanah through the recitation of Selichot, therefore hold deep significance for us all. They connect us with God, with our rich history, and with our Jewish identity, giving us the privilege of renewing the Covenant we received at Mount Sinai. Let us cherish these prayers, particularly at this meaningful time.