Confession of Sins (Vidduy)

What is confession? When must it be done?

We can't tell you how to feel regret or resolve, it's just something that happens inside. But we can give you a few tips on how to clean up the mess a mess-up leaves in its trail

Real adults have the world on their shoulders -- and all those placebos to escape that world. And then there's me, with an awareness of what is and no way to get out of it. It seems somehow unfair

Has the Torah become too enmeshed in the technicalities of the sacrifice itself, allowing the "meaning" of penitence to take a back seat?

Some people question the use of an alcoholic taking personal inventory and admitting to his wrongs early in sobriety. What's the point of trying to clean house when you still have the same character defects?

The Jewish people becomes tarnished when one of its members commits perjury.

Why waste the holiest day of the year dwelling on everything you messed up?

Question: We already petitioned G‑d on Rosh Hashanah. Why are we going through the whole exercise all over again on Yom Kippur? Doesn't G‑d get a little annoyed at the repeat performance? Isn't this something like the little nudnik kid who keeps asking ...

Our relationship with G-d is completely scripted. The tasks demanded by this relationship seemingly don't leave much room for improvisation, for impromptu and original outbursts of care and love.