Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre (1st Night)

Opening Prayer
 
Our God and God of our fathers, as evening casts its shadow over the earth, ushering in the most solemn day of the year, we join with those of the commonwealth throughout the world in prayer and meditation.  We put aside all petty thoughts and vain desires.  What is our life, and of what avail our strength?  What is our wealth, and to what purpose our power?  We lift up our eyes unto Thee, O LORD, and yearn for Thy light and inspiration.  On this Kol Nidre night, sanctified by sacred memories, united with the generations of the past, recalling the piety and devotion of our ancestors, we stand in Thy presence stripped of all pretense and revealed in all our weakness.  O Thou who sees all, You know how frail and fragile we are.

We aim toward lofty heights, but temptation overcomes us.  Greed and vanity blind our eyes, envy and arrogance eat into the marrow of our bones, false ambitions bring us bitter remorse, and selfishness dwarfs our souls.  We are creatures of haphazard living.  We stumble and fall; we grope and wander.  O LORD, strengthen us in our weak moments and guide our faltering footsteps.  Speak to our hearts with the still small voice of Thy spirit so that we may search our ways and return unto Thee.  Cause us to be forgiving even as we ask to be forgiven.  Cause us to discover the faults of our ways and the errors into which we have fallen, so that we may not repeat the trespasses for which we repent this day.

Amidst the uncertainties and tragedies of life, we need Thee, O God.  Only when we are aware of Thee do we have fortitude, vision and hope.  Out of the depths of our hearts do we call upon Thee.  O hearken unto our voice and attend our prayer.  Turn us unto Thee, O LORD, so that we may be at peace with ourselves and with our fellowmen.  On this sacred night, may we heed the admonition of Thy prophet, to cast away our sins and transgressions and make us a new heart and a new spirit.  Amen.

Blessing for allowing us to be here today
 בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה
 Baruch atah Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha olam, shehekheyanu, v’kheeyemanu, v’heegeeyanu lazman hazeh.
 
Blessed are you O LORD our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and privileged us to reach this season.

Call to Worship     
   בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְהוָ֥ה הַמְּבֹרָךְ 
   
Barchoo et Adonai Hamvorach
 
ברוּךְ יהוה הַמְּבֹרָךְ לָעוֹלָם וָעֵד
Baruch Adonai Hamvorach l’olam va’ed

Bless the LORD who is to be praised!
Praised be the LORD who is blessed for all eternity!

Shema
שְׂמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְהוָ֥ה אֶחָֽד:

Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheynu, Adonai Echad
 
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Baruch Shem kavod, malchuto l’olam va’ed

 Hear O Israel, The LORD God, the LORD is One.
Blessed be His glorious Name, whose Kingdom is forever and ever. Amen

And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your hearts.  You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.  You shall bind them for a sign upon your hand and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.  You shall write them upon the doorpost of your house and upon your gates.

A Piyyut for Yom Kippur Isaiah 58:1-11
Is it a fast that I have chosen?
A day for a man to afflict his soul?

Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?

Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?

Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and he will say, “Here I am.”

If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness,
if you extend your soul to the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted soul,

then your light shall dawn in the darkness,
and your darkness shall be as the noon,
the Lord will guide you continually,
and satisfy your soul in drought,
and strengthen your bones;
you shall be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.

God’s Command to Observe this Day
Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.  And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people. (Lev 23:27-30)

But as for me, when they were sick, My clothing was sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting; And my prayer would return to my own heart. (Ps 35:13)

Note on Kol Nidre Prayer
Though the author and the date of the Kol Nidre are unknown, in ancient times, as in our day, vows unto the LORD were often rashly made.  In the precarious eras in which our forefathers lived, circumstances beyond their control frequently denied them the opportunity of fulfilling their vows.  The following legal formula, known as the Kol Nidre, was the result.  In those lands where Jews, under duress, made vows to accept another faith, the recital of the Kol Nidre often brought relief to their tormented consciences.

Judaism always recognized and taught that the Kol Nidre cannot release anyone from a juridical oath or from any promise, contract or obligation between man and man.  It applies only to those vows which an individual makes to his God and in which no other persons are involved.  Sins between man and man are not forgiven until amends have been made for the wrong.  Our observation of Kol Nidre focuses not on imposed vows broken, but on how we have strayed from God’s commandments.

Kol Nidre

Leader:
All vows, bonds, promises, obligations, oaths, vows of dedication, of abstinence and of promises to pay fines; to which we have vowed, sworn, and bound ourselves: from this Yom Kippur unto the next Yom Kippur that is to come upon us and upon all Israel, may it come unto us for good: all these vows, we regret them all.

Let us heed the words of Yeshua as he teaches us not to swear falsely, rather let our yes be yes and our no be no, that we may be found blameless before our God and King.

Avinu Malkenu - אבנו מלכנו
Our Father, our King,
bring to judgement those who have shed the blood of Your people.
Our Father, our King,
grant our supplication for Your sake, if not for ours.
Our Father, our King,
accept our prayer for Your sake and save us.
Our Father, our King,
do this for the sake of Your abundant mercies.
Our Father, our King,
do it for the sake of Your great, mighty and revered name.

All: 
Our Father, our King,
be gracious unto us and answer us; for lo, we are unworthy; deal with us in charity and loving-kindness and save us.
Our Father, our King,
inscribe us in the book of freedom and salvation.
Our Father, our King,
inscribe us in the book of sustenance.
Our Father, our King,
inscribe us for a meritorious life.
Our Father, our King,
inscribe us in the book of forgiveness and reconciliation.


Leader: 
Our Father, our King,
cause salvation speedily to spring forth for us.
Our Father, our King,
bring glory to Israel, Your people.
Our Father, our King,
exalt the majesty of Your anointed Redeemer.
Our Father, our King,
provide us with Your abundant blessings.
Our Father, our King,
fill our storehouses with plenty.
Our Father, our King,
hear our voice, have pity and compassion upon us.
Our Father, our King,
receive our prayer with merciful favor.
Our Father, our King,
open the gates of heaven unto our prayer.
Our Father, our King,
O turn us not away from Thee unanswered.

All: 
Our Father, our King,
remember our frailty for we are but dust.
Our Father, our King,
let this hour be an hour of mercy and a time of favor before Thee.
Our Father, our King,
have mercy upon us, and upon our children.
Our Father, our King,
  do this for the sake of those who were slain for Your Holy Name.


Leader: 
Our Father, our King,
do this for the sake of those who were slaughtered for Thy unity.
Our Father, our King,
do this for the sake of those who went through fire and water for the sanctification of Your name.
Our Father, our King,
we have sinned before You.
Our Father, our King,
we have no king except You.
Our Father, our King,
deal with us kindly for the sake of Your Name.
Our Father, our King,
renew unto us a year of good.
Our Father, our King,
annul every evil decree against us.
Our Father, our King,
annul the designs of those who hate us.
Our Father, our King,
frustrate the counsel of our enemies.
Our Father, our King,
destroy the power of every oppressor and adversary.
Our Father, our King,
silence the mouths of our adversaries and those who accuse us falsely.
Our Father, our King,
remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity, destruction and plague from the children who obey Your covenant.
Our Father, our King,
withhold the plague from Your people.

All: 
Our Father, our King,
forgive and pardon our iniquities.
Our Father, our King,
blot out our transgressions and cause our sins to pass away from before Thee.



Leader: 
Our Father, our King,
efface in Your abundant mercy all record of our guilt.
Our Father, our King,
may we return unto Thee in perfect repentance.
Our Father, our King,
gather the exiles from the four corners of earth.
Our Father, our King,
restore the Commonwealth of Your people.
Our Father, our King,
send a perfect healing to the sick among Your people.
Our Father, our King,
repeal the evil sentence that may be decreed against us.

All: 
Our Father, our King,
remember us for our well-being.
Our Father, our King,
 inscribe us in the Book of Life.


Leader:
True and certain it is that there is one God,
And there is none like Him.
It is He who redeemed us from the might of tyrants,
And preserved us from the hand of all oppressors.
Great are the things that God has done;
His wonders are without number.
He brought forth the children of Israel from Egypt,
And delivered them from slavery unto freedom.
In all ages the LORD hath been our hope;
He has rescued us from enemies who sought to
destroy us.
May He continue His protecting care over Israel,
And guard all His children from disaster.
When the children of Israel beheld the might of
the LORD
As He redeemed them from the land of Egypt,
They gave thanks unto Him
And willingly accepted His sovereignty.
Moses and the children of Israel sang a song unto Him.
They proclaimed in great exultation:

מִֽי־ כָמֹ֤כָה בָּֽאֵלִם֙ יְהוָ֔ה 

 מִ֥י כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ 
נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת עֹ֥שֵׂה פֶֽלֶא׃

Mi chamocha ba-eylim Adonai,
Mi kamaocha nedar ba-kodesh,
Nora t’hilot osey fe-leh, osey fe-leh (Exod 15:11)
 
All:
“Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the mighty?
Who is like unto Thee, glorious in holiness,
Revered in praises, doing wonders?” (Ex 15:11)
When You did rescue Israel at the Red Sea,
Your children beheld Your supreme power;
“This is my God!” they exclaimed:


יְהוָ֥ה ׀ יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃  (Exod 15:18)
Adonai yimloch l’olam va-ed.
 
“The LORD shall reign for ever and ever!”


Leader:
As You have delivered Israel from a power mightier than he, so may You redeem all Your children from oppression.
Blessed are You, O LORD, Redeemer of Israel.

AMIDOT   

Sefatai (My Lips)
אֲדֺני שְפָתַי תּפְתָּח וּפי יַגּיד תְּהלָּתֶךָ
Adonai sefatai tiftach ufi yagid tehilatecha
Adonai, open up my lips that my mouth may declare Your praise (Psalm 51:15).

1. Avot (Fathers)
בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu v’elohei avoteinu

Blessed are You, O LORD our God and God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome God, the most high God, Who bestows grace and creates all, and remembers the kindness of the Fathers, and brings [the] Redeemer [Yeshua] to their children’s children, for His name’s sake with love.
O King, Helper, Savior and Shield,

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מָגֵן אַבְרָהָם

Baruch atah Adonai, magen Avraham

Blessed are You, O LORD, Shield of Abraham.

2. Gibbor (Might) גִּבֹּ֖ר
You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resurrecter of the dead are You; great in salvation. Who sustains the living with kindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the fallen, heals the sick, releases the confined, and keeps His faith to those asleep in the dust. Who is like You, O Master of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You, O King who causes death and restores life and makes salvation sprout? You [Who resurrected Yeshua] are faithful to resurrect the dead.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְחַיֵּה הַמֵתִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mechaiyeh hametim

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who resurrects the dead.

3. Kadesh et HaShem (Holiness of The Name)
You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones praise You every day.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָאֵל הָקָדוֹשׁ
Baruch atah Adonai, ha’El hakadosh

Blessed are You, O LORD, the holy God.

4. Binah (Understanding)
You show favor to a man of knowledge, and teach understanding to a mortal man. Be gracious to us. A mind of understanding and intellect is from You.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חוֹנֵן הַדָּעַת
Baruch atah Adonai, chonen hada’at

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who favors the knowledge.

5. Teshuvah (Repentance)
Bring us back, our Father, to Your Torah, and bring us closer, our King, to Your service, and make us return in complete repentance before You.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הָרוֹצֶה בִּתְשׁוּבָה
Baruch atah Adonai, harotzeh bit’shuvah

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who desires repentance.

6. Selach (Forgiveness)
Forgive us, our Father, for we have erred; pardon us, our King, for we have intentionally sinned, for You pardon and forgive.

בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה חַנּוּן הַמַרְבֶּה לסְלֹחַ
Baruch atah Adonai, chanun hamarbeh lislo’ach

Blessed are You, O LORD, who pardons abundantly.

7. Ge’ulah (Redemption)

Behold our affliction, take up our grievance, and save us soon for the sake of Your Name, for You are a powerful Redeemer.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה גּוֹאֵלׅ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, go’el Yisra’el

Blessed are You, O LORD, Redeemer of Israel.

8. Refuah (Healing)
Heal us, O LORD, and we shall be healed; save us, and we shall be saved, for You are our praise, and bring complete recovery for all our ailments, for You are God, King, the faithful and compassionate Healer.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי עמוֹׅ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, rofeh cholei amoh Yisra’el

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who heals His people Israel.

9. Birkat HaShanim (Blessings of the Years)
Bless for us, O LORD our God, this year and its crops. Give us blessing, and give dew and rain for blessing on the face of the earth, and satisfy us from Your goodness, and bless our year like the other good years.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים
Baruch atah Adonai, mevarech hashanim

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses the years.

10. Kibbutz Galuyot (Ingathering of Exiles)
Sound the great shofar for our freedom, and raise a standard to gather our exiles [from both houses of Israel], and gather us [in Messiah Yeshua] from the four corners of the earth.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֵקַבֵּץ נִדְחֵי עמוֹ ישְרָאֵל
Baruch atah Adonai, mekabetz nid’chei amoh Yisra’el

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.

11. Birkat HaDin (Justice)
Restore our judges as in early times and our counselors as at first; remove from us our sorrows and troubles; we want You, O LORD, alone, to rule over us with kindness and compassion and to justify us in justice.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מֶלֶךְ אוֺהֵב צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט
Baruch atah Adonai, melech ohev tzedakah u’mishpat
Blessed are You, O LORD, King Who loves righteousness and justice.

12. Tzadikim (The Righteous)
On the righteous, on the devout, on the elders of Your people, the house of Israel, on the remnant of their scribes, on the righteous converts and on us, may Your compassion be aroused, O LORD our God, and give good reward to all those who truly trust Your Name. May You put our share among them forever, and we shall not be ashamed, for You we trust.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מִשְׁעָן וּמבְטָח לַצַּדִּיׅקים
Baruch atah Adonai, mishan u’mivtach la’tzadikim

Blessed are You O LORD, Who supports and safeguards the righteous.

13. Binyan Yerushalayim (Rebuilding Jerusalem)
And to Jerusalem Your city You shall return with mercy, and You shall dwell in it, as You have spoken. May You rebuild it soon in our days for eternity, [made ready as a bride adorned for her husband,] and may You establish [Messiah Yeshua on] the throne of David within it.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלים
Baruch atah Adonai, boneh Yerushalayim

Blessed are You, O LORD, Builder of Jerusalem.

14. Malchut Ben David (Davidic Reign – Yeshua the Messiah)
May the [kingdom of Yeshua the Messiah, the] offspring of David, Your Servant, flourish speedily and exalt His honor with Your salvation. For Your salvation we hope all day long. [Amen. Come, Adonai Yeshua.]

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה מַצְמיחַ קֶרֶן יְשׁוׇּעה
Baruch atah Adonai, matzimiach keren yeshuah

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who makes the Horn of Salvation to flourish.

15. Tefillah (Acceptance of Prayer)
Hear our voice, O Lord our God. Have mercy and compassion for us, and accept our prayers mercifully and willingly, for You are God who listens to prayers and supplications. From before Yourself, our King, turn us not away empty handed, for You hear the prayer of Your people Israel mercifully.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה שׁוֹמֵעַ תּפִׇלּה
Baruch atah Adonai, shome’a tefillah

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who hears prayers.

16. Avodah (Service)
Be favorable, O LORD our God, toward Your people Israel and to their prayer, and restore the most holy service of Your house. Accept in love the offerings and prayers of Israel, and may the service of Your people, Israel, always be favorable to You. May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמַחֲזִיר שְׁכִינתוֹ לְצִיּוֹן
Baruch atah Adonai, hamachazir shekhinato l’Tzion

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who restores His presence to Zion.

17. Modim (Thanksgiving)
We thank You, for You are ADONAI, our God and the God of our forefathers forever and ever. The Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation, You are in every generation. We thank You and tell Your glory for our lives which are in Your hands, and for our souls that are entrusted to You, and for Your miracles that are with us every day, and for Your wonders and favors that happen all the time, evening and morning and noon. The Good One, for Your compassion was not exhausted, and the Compassionate One, for Your merciful deeds have not ended; always have we put our hope in You. For all these, may Your name be blessed and exalted, our King, always, forever and ever; and all the living will thank You and praise Your name truly, O God, our salvation and help.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַטוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹת
Baruch atah Adonai, hatov shimcha ulecha na’eh l’hodot

Blessed are You, O LORD, the Good One is Your name, and You are proper to thank.

18. Sim Shalom (Establish Peace)
Establish peace, goodness, and blessing, graciousness, kindness, and compassion upon us, and upon all Israel Your people. Bless us our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance; for with the light of Your countenance You gave us, O LORD our God, [Yeshua the Messiah,] the Torah of Life, and a love of kindness, righteousness, blessing, compassion, life and peace.
May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, in every season and in every hour with Your peace.

ׇ בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמוֹ יִשְרָאֵל בַּשָּׁלוֹם
Baruch atah Adonai, hamevarech et amoh Yisra’el bashalom

Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses His people Israel with peace.

Imrei Fi  (The Words of My Mouth)
יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יהוה צוּרִי וְגֺאֲלִי
Yihyu l’ratzon imrei fi, v’hegyon libi, l’faneicha, Adonai tzuri v’go’eli

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:15)



עֺשֶה שָׁלוֺם בִּמְרוֺמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶה שָׁלוֺם עָלֵינוּ
וְעַל כָּל יִשְרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֺשְׁבֵי תֵבֶל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵ
ן
Oseh shalom bimromav hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisra’el v’al kol yoshvei tevel v’imru amen

 May He who makes peace in His heights make peace upon us And upon all Israel and upon on all who dwell in the earth, and we say: Amen

Raui haSeh (Worthy is the Lamb)


רָאוּי הַשֶה שָׁנִּשְׁחַט
Raui ha-seh shannish’chat

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, To receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. To the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever. Great and wonderful are Your deeds, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the nations. Who shall not fear and glorify Your name, O Lord? For You alone are Holy. All the .nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.

V’ne’emar (And It Will Be Said)


וְנֶאֱמַר וְהָיָה יהוה לְמֶלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָרֶץ
בַּיּוֺם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יהוה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֺ אֶחָד

v’ne’emar v’hayah Adonai l’melech al kol ha’aretz bayom ha-hu yihyeh Adonai echad u’sh’mo echad

And it will be said, The LORD will be king over all the earth, And in that day the LORD will be one, and His name One

Pardon O, Lord

Our God and God of our fathers, remember us and accept us as you remember our fathers, Jerusalem your holy city, all that you have called to be your chosen people, through whom you bring redemption from sin, deliverance, well-being, grace, faithful love, mercy, life and peace on this Day of Atonement.  Remember us, O LORD our God, for good and a life of blessing.  According to your promise of salvation and mercy, spare us and be gracious to us; have compassion on us and deliver us.
 
Our God and God of our fathers, in times of old you pardoned our iniquities on this Day of Atonement.  Now in the present day, you remove our transgression as written in Scripture: I, even I Am He, that blots out your transgressions for My own sake.  I have blotted out as a cloud your transgressions, and as a mist, your sins; return to Me for I have redeemed you.  For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before the LORD.

Our God and God of our fathers, sanctify us by the sacrifice of Messiah, and grant our portion in your Torah; satisfy us with your goodness, and gladden us with your salvation.

Blessed are you, O LORD our God, King of the Universe who pardons and forgives our iniquities, who casts our transgressions into the depths of the sea and separates them from us as far as the east is from the west.  Blessed are You, O LORD our God, who forgives our wickedness and remembers our sin no more.

Leader:
He who answered our father Abraham on Mount Moriah, and Isaac, his son, when he was bound on the altar, and Jacob in Bethel,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Joseph in the dungeon, and our fathers at the Red Sea and Moses in Horeb,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Aaron with the censer, and Phineas when he rose from among the congregation, and Joshua in Gilgal,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Samuel in Mizpah, and David and Solomon, his son, in Jerusalem,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Elijah on Mount Carmel and Elisha in Jericho, and Jonah in the bowels of the fish,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Hezekiah in his sickness and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah in the midst of the fiery furnace, and Daniel in the lion’s den,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered Mordecai and Esther in Shushan the capital, and Ezra in the captivity,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who sent Yeshua the Messiah and His emissaries throughout the earth,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
He who answered all the righteous and pious, the faithful and the upright in all generations,
All:
He shall answer us.
Leader:
O merciful God, who answers the poor, the lowly in spirit, and the broken of heart, answer us.
All:
Answer us, O LORD, answer us.
Leader:
You who are revered and exalted, who forgives and pardons, who answers in a favorable time, our Redeemer and Deliverer,
All:
Answer us, O LORD, answer us.
Leader:
You who are just and upright, near to all who call upon You, merciful and gracious, the support of the faithful,
All:
Answer us, O LORD, answer us.
 
Leader:
O merciful God, have compassion, redeem, save and have pity upon us, now and forever.

Ashamnu: We Are Guilty
א  Ashamnu: We have been guilty.
ב  Bagadnu: We have betrayed others.
ג  Gazalnu: We have stolen.
ד  Dibarnu Dofi: We have spoken falsely.
ה  Heyvinu: We have caused perversion.
ו  Vihirshanu: We have caused others to do evil.
ז  Zadnu: We have had evil hearts.
ח  Chamasnu: We have been violent.
ט  Tafalnu Sheker: We have been dishonest.
י  Yatznu ra: We have advised evil.
כ  Kizavnu: We have lied and broken promises.
ל  Latznu: We have been contemptuous.
מ  Maradnu: We have rebelliously done what we should not do.
נ  Niatznu: We have provoked others.
ס  Sararnu: We have failed to do what is right.
ע  Avinu: We have succumbed to temptation.
פ  Peshanu: We have acted without regard to moral standards.
צ  Tzararnu: We have persecuted and oppressed others.
ק  Kishinu Oref: We have been stubborn.
ר  Rishanu: We have been wicked.
ש  Shichatnu: We have corrupted.
ת  Tiavnu: We have committed abominations.
ת  Tainu: We have gone astray.
ת  Tiatanu: We have misled others.

AL CHET - The Confessions
We have trespassed, we have dealt treacherously, we have robbed, we have spoken slander, we have acted perversely, and we have wrought wickedness; we have been presumptuous, we have done violence, we have framed lies, we have counseled evil, and we have spoken falsely; we have scoffed, we have revolted, we have provoked, we have rebelled, we have committed iniquity, and we have transgressed; we have oppressed, we have been stiff-necked, we have done wickedly, we have corrupted, we have committed abominations, we have gone astray, and we have led others astray.

We have turned away from Your commandments and Your judgements that are good, and it has profited us nothing.  But You are righteous in all that has come upon us for You have acted truthfully, but we have wrought unrighteousness.

What shall we say before You, O Thou who dwells on high, and what shall we declare before You, Thou who abides in the heavens?  Do You not know all things, both the hidden and the revealed?

You know the mysteries of the universe and the hidden secrets of all living.  You search out the heart of man, and probe all our thoughts and aspirations.  Nothing escapes You, neither is anything concealed from Your sight.

May it therefore be Your will, O LORD, our God and God of our fathers, to forgive us all our sins, to pardon all our iniquities and to grant atonement for all our transgressions.
 
Leader:
May it be Your will, LORD our God and God of our fathers, to forgive all our sins, to pardon all our iniquities, and to cleanse us from all our sins.
 
All:
For the sin we committed in your sight forcibly or willingly,
And for the sin we committed against you with hard-heartedness.
For the sin we committed in your sight without intention,
And for the sin we committed against you by idle talk.
For the sin we committed in your sight by lustful actions,
And for the sin we committed against you by offensive speech.
For the sin we committed in your sight by oppressing others,
And for the sin we committed by contempt for parents or teachers.
For the sin we committed in your sight by lewd association,
And for the sin we committed against you by insincere confession.
For the sin we committed against you by violence,
And for the sin we committed against you by defaming your name.

 
Leader:
Forgive us all sins, O God of forgiveness, and cleanse us.
 
All:
For the sin we committed in your sight by fraud and deception,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
And for the sin we committed against you by bribery.
For the sin we committed in your sight by mocking,
And for the sin we committed against you by slander.
For the sin we committed in your sight by usury and interest,
And for the sin we committed against you by pride.
For the sin we committed in your sight by our manner of speech,
And for the sin we committed against you by wanton glances.
For the sin we committed in your sight by arrogance,
And for the sin we committed against you by scornful defiance.

Leader:
Forgive us all sins, O God of forgiveness, and cleanse us.
 
All:
For the sin we committed in your sight by shirking responsibility,
And for the sin we committed against you in passing judgement.
For the sin we committed in your sight by plotting against others,
And for the sin we committed against you by gross selfishness.
For the sin we committed in your sight by foolishness,
And for the sin we committed against you by being stubborn.
For the sin we committed against you by running to do evil,
And for the sin we committed against you by tale-bearing,
For the sin we committed in your sight by swearing falsely,
And for the sin committed by groundless hatred.
For the sin we committed in your sight by breach of trust,
And for the sin we committed against you by a confused heart.
 
Leader:
Forgive us all sins, O God of forgiveness, and cleanse us.
 
All:
For the sins requiring a burnt-offering,
And for the sins requiring a sin-offering.
For the sins requiring varying offerings,
And for the sins requiring guilt offerings.
For the sins requiring corporal punishment,
And for the sins requiring forty lashes.
For the sins requiring premature death,
And for the sins requiring excommunications.

Leader:
May our prayer come before You.  Hide not Yourself from our supplication, for we are neither so arrogant nor so hardened, as to say before You, O LORD our God and God of our fathers, “we are righteous and have not sinned”; verily we have sinned.
 
Forgive us for all of these sins, for we read of Yeshua HaMashiach, that “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our sins was on Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is 53:5-6)

Forgive us for the sake of Your splendor, Your mystery, Your strength, Your excellence, Your righteousness, Your holiness, Your abundant mercy, Your divine presence and Your praise.

Forgive us for the sake of the blood of Your servants which has been poured forth; for the sake of those who have been slain for Your holy name, and who have been slaughtered for Your unity; who went through fire and through water for the sanctification of Your name.

Leader:
We are insolent, but You are merciful and compassionate.  We are obstinate, but You are long-suffering.  We are burdened by our sins, but You are abounding in mercy.  As for us, our days are like a passing shadow; but You are immutable, and Your years never-ending.

All:
Our God and God of our fathers, may our prayers come before Thee.  Hide not Thyself from our supplication for we are neither so arrogant nor so hardened as to say before Thee, O LORD our God and God of our fathers, “we are righteous and have not sinned”; verily we have sinned.

Leader:
Our God and God of our fathers, forsake us not, nor leave us.  Cast us not off, nor annul Thy covenant with us.  Bring us nearer to Your Torah, and teach us Your commandments.  Show us Your ways, incline our hearts to revere Your name.  Reveal to us Your salvation in Messiah Yeshua for through Him is our atonement.  Our God and God of our fathers, forgive us, pardon us, and grant us atonement;
 
All:
For we are Your people, and You are our God;
We are Your children, and You are our Father.
We are Your servants, and You are our Master;
We are Your congregation, and You are our Portion.
We are Your inheritance, and You are our Lot;
We are Your flock, and You are our Shepherd.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.  You who keeps harmony in the heavenly places, may You make peace for us, and for Israel, and for all Your children everywhere, Amen.

Leader:
And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, since the people have transgressed unwittingly. “O pardon the iniquities of this people according to Thy great mercy, as Thou hast forgiven this people from the days of Egypt until now.” (Num 14:19)
Forgive, we beseech You, the sins of this people.
 
All:
And God said: “I have pardoned them as you asked.” (Num 14:20)
May our prayers rise in the evening
Our pleas come to You from early morning
And our thanksgiving be seen tomorrow night
May our voice rise in the evening
Our goodness to You from the early morning
And our help come in the evening
May our woe rise in the evening
And our pardon from the early morning
And our plea sound in the evening
May our hope rise in the evening
And may it come for Thy sake with the early morning
And our atonement be made in the evening
May our deliverance rise in the evening
And may our purity be as the early morning
And our prayers be heard until evening
May our remembrance rise in the evening
May our assembly plead to You in the early morning
In glory visible until evening
Thus at Your door we knock from evening
May our joy come forth in the early morning
And may our request appear until evening
May our call rise unto You in the evening,
And may it reach You at dawn
And bring us shalom in the evening.