RMPS - Int2/Higher - World Religions - Judaism - Education Scotland

Source
THE GOALS
For the sin that we have sinned before You:
• under duress and willingly; and for the sin that we have sinned before You
through hardness of heart.
• without knowledge; and for the sin that we have sinned before You with
the utterance of the lips.
• through harsh speech; and for the sin that we have sinned before You
with knowledge and with deceit.
• through inner thoughts; and for the sin that we have sinned before You
through wronging a neighbour.
• wilfully and carelessly; and for the sin that we have sinned before You by
showing contempt for parents and teachers.
• by exercising power; and for the sin that we have sinned before You
through desecration of the Name.
Confession prayer selected verses, Mussaf, Yom Kippur
Although this prayer is recited by each individual, it is written in the first
person plural as it is uttered collectively in the synagogue; look back at
section 4 (p29) for further explanation. Even those who have not
committed the sins mentioned in the confession recite this prayer as
they share a common responsibility and humanity. It is important to
remember that even the most sincere recitation of this prayer, which
conveys deep remorse, does not pardon one’s sins against one’s fellow
man unless one has asked pardon from him or her first. However,
Judaism considers that every individual or offender should have the
opportunity to be forgiven.
But the Day of Atonement does not atone for everything. According to
tradition, if a person transgresses a positive commandment and repents,
he is immediately forgiven (Yoma 85b 2 ). (For example the commands to
honour your parents or to restore lost property.) For a negative
commandment, repentance suspends the punishment, and the Day of
Atonement procures atonement (for example, the command not to tell
lies). For a very grave sin, repentance and the Day of Atonement may
suspend the punishment, and suffering completes the atonement.
However, this does not interfere with the power and the duty of a court
of law to try and sentence a criminal to an appropriate punishment.
Saying sorry on the Day of Atonement is not intended to be an easy way
out. Atonement is only of value if no third party has been injured. Under
those circumstances pardon from the third party must be sought and
restitution made.
2 Yoma is a section of the Babylonian Talmud.
RMPS: WORLD RELIGIONS – JUDAISM (INT 2, H) 49
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