Ki Tavo ~ Language and its uses

(302) We have trespassed;

(303) We have betrayed ;

(304) We have stolen; We have slandered.

(305) We have caused others to sin;

(306) We have caused others to be [called] רְשָׁעִים, wicked;

(307) We have sinned with malicious intent;

(308) We have forcibly taken others' possessions;

(309) We have added falsehood upon falsehood;

(310) We have given harmful advice;

(311) We have deceived; we have mocked;

(312) We have rebelled;

(313) We have caused God to be angry;

(314) We have turned away from Torah;

(315) We have sinned deliberately;

(316) We have sinned by negligence;

(317) We have caused grief;

(318) We have been stiff-necked.

(319) We have been רָשָׁע, evil.

(320) We have been morally corrupt;

(321) We have committed abominations;

(322) We have gone astray;

(323) We have led others astray.

(324) We have turned away

(325) from Your commandments

(326) and from Your good laws,

(327) and we have gained nothing from it.

(350) For the sin we committed before You

(351) under compulsion⁶⁰Even a sin committed under duress needs to be forgiven, because many times a person allows himself to be placed in a predicament in which he is compelled to sin (e.g., leaving the office at a very late hour on the eve of Shabbos or Festival).—Siddur HaGra and willingly.

(352) And for the sin we committed before You

(353) by callously hardening the heart.⁶¹This would include not giving charity with a whole heart, and not helping a needy fellow Jew.—Siddur HaGra

(354) For the sin we committed before You

(355) inadvertently.⁶²The literal meaning of בִּבְלִי דַעַת is “without knowledge,” and it implies not using our intellectual capabilities to study the laws of Torah and therewith gain the “knowledge” needed to observe the commandments properly.—Siddur HaGra

(356) And for the sin we committed before You

(357) with an utterance of the lips.⁶³This includes the sins of making vows and oaths (even though they are kept), verbally insulting one’s fellowmen, and directing one’s displeasure against the decrees of Hashem.— Siddur HaGra

(358) For the sin we committed before You

(359) openly and secretly.⁶⁴A sin committed publicly could very well cause חִלוּל ה', the desecration of Hashem’s Name, and may also lead others to sin. A sin committed in secret, indicates that the sinner fears the reaction of people but is unafraid of Hashem’s displeasure.—Siddur HaGra

(360) And for the sin we committed before You

(361) in sexual immorality.⁶⁵This also includes such things that arouse desire for forbidden sexual relationships, such as embracing or dancing.—Siddur HaGra

(362) For the sin we committed before You

(363) through [misuse of our power of] speech.⁶⁶This includes speaking the words of Torah in unclean places, cursing, humiliating someone; speaking of business matters on Shabbos, revealing another person’s secret, telling jokes and holding idle conversations in a house of worship (and certainly during the actual prayers) and telling lies.

(364) And for the sin we committed before You

(365) with knowledge and with deceit.⁶⁷This includes false advertising and dishonesty in business matters.—Siddur HaGra

(366) For the sin we committed before You

(367) by improper thoughts.⁶⁸Evil thoughts, lustful thoughts, heretical thoughts, and suspicious thoughts about righteous people are included.—Siddur HaGra

(368) And for the sin we committed before You

(369) by cheating a fellow-man.

(370) For the sin we committed before You

(371) with [mere] verbal confession.⁶⁹This refers to confession of sins without feeling regret for committing them and without earnest resolve to correct them in the future.—Siddur HaGra

(372) And for the sin we committed before You

(373) by joining in a lewd gathering.⁷⁰Any gathering or intimate meeting for the purpose of sexual immortality is included.—Siddur HaGra

(374) For the sin we committed before You

(375) intentionally and unintentionally.

(376) And for the sin we committed before You

(377) by insufficient respect for parents

(378) and teachers.⁷¹Not obeying their commands, not rising for a talmudic scholar and disrespect for one’s teacher even if he is not considered a “Torah Great” are included.

(379) For the sin we committed before You

(380) by using coercion [to harm others].⁷²This includes using physical, political or financial power to harm someone.

(381) And for the sin we committed before You

(382) by desecrating the Divine Name.⁷³This involves any sin committed that becomes public knowledge, including improper conduct with one’s fellow man.

(383) For the sin we committed before You

(384) with foolish talk.⁷⁴This refers to idle talk and gossip.

(385) And for the sin we committed before You

(386) with impurity of the lips.⁷⁵This includes profanity and unclean language.

(387) For the sin we committed before You

(388) with the Evil Inclination.⁷⁶When a person allows his Evil Inclination to rule over him, he commits a sin.

(389) And for the sin we committed before You

(390) knowingly and unknowingly.⁷⁷We ask Hashem to pardon us even for sins we are not aware that we committed, and also for such sins through which we caused damage but are not aware of the amount of loss incurred.—Siddur HaGra

(391) And for all of these, God of pardon,

(392) pardon us, forgive us,

(393) grant us atonement.

(394) For the sin we committed before You

(395) by forcing someone to give or take bribes.⁷⁸A bribe is not limited to money or gifts; it includes flattery or personal favors.— Siddur HaGra

(396) And for the sin we committed before You

(397) by false denial and false promise.

(398) For the sin we committed before You

(399) by evil talk [slander].⁷⁹This includes causing a fellow Jew physical, monetary of social harm through passing degrading information about him to another person. It makes no difference whether this is done in his presence or behind his back, or if the information is true or false.—Siddur HaGra

(400) And for the sin we committed before You

(401) by scoffing.⁸⁰Ridicule of a person, a commandment, or guards of Torah are all included in the sin of scoffing.—Siddur HaGra

(402) For the sin we committed before You

(403) in business dealings.⁸¹This would include overcharging, misrepresenting, false-labeling and all other such deceitful practices.

(404) And for the sin we committed before You

(405) in eating and drinking.⁸²Eating forbidden (non-kosher) foods, not saying the proper blessing or grace after meals, over-eating, are included in this sin.—Siddur HaGra

(406) For the sin we committed before You

(407) by [taking or giving] interest and by usury.

(408) And for the sin we committed before You

(409) by haughtily stretching forth the neck.

(410) For the sin we committed before You

(411) with gazing of the eyes.⁸³This refers to using the eyes to gaze at forbidden things.—Siddur HaGra

(412) And for the sin we committed before You

(413) by the prattle of our lips.⁸⁴This includes idle gossip, which is certainly forbidden in the synagogue at all times.

(414) For the sin we committed before You

(415) with haughty eyes.

(416) And for the sin we committed before You

(417) with impudence.⁸⁵Speaking “with chutzpah” to Torah scholars, or to someone more learned than himself is included in עַזּוּת מֵצַח.

(418) And for all of these, God of pardon,

(419) pardon us, forgive us,

(420) grant us atonement.

(421) For the sin we committed before You

(422) by throwing off the yoke [of heaven].⁸⁶Rejecting an obligation to fulfill even a single commandment. Also included is shirking a religious obligation which must then be assumed by someone else.—Siddur HaGra

(423) And for the sin we committed before You

(424) in passing judgment.⁸⁷This includes a “Dayan,” a judge who does not render correct decisions, and it also includes not giving someone the benefit of the doubt.—Siddur HaGra

(425) For the sin we committed before You

(426) by entrapping a fellowman.⁸⁸This includes even attempting to harm someone; even if no harm was actually done, he still needs forgiveness.—Siddur HaGra

(427) And for the sin we committed before You

(428) by a begrudging eye.⁸⁹Not doing a favor, not giving charity properly, and feeling bad at someone else’s success are included.—Siddur HaGra

(429) For the sin we committed before You

(430) by lightmindedness.⁹⁰Lightmindedness or frivolity in the synagogue or Bais Midrash or while wearing tefillin are serious sins.—Siddur HaGra

(431) And for the sin we committed before You

(432) by being stiff-necked [stubborn].⁹¹Rejecting admonition and “ignoring” punishment are included. Also included is brushing aside illness, financial loss, and humiliation as mere coincidences rather than manifestations of Divine displeasure.—Siddur HaGra

(433) For the sin we committed before You

(434) by running to do evil.

(435) And for the sin we committed before You

(436) by talebearing.⁹²This refers to carrying tales, even true ones, about one person to another, and the one who listens to these tales is also included in this category of sin.—Siddur HaGra

(437) For the sin we committed before You

(438) by swearing in vain.⁹³This includes swearing falsely or even swearing a useless oath.—Siddur HaGra

(439) And for the sin we committed before You

(440) by unwarranted hatred.⁹⁴Hating someone because of jealousy, or because he doesn’t conform to your ideas of ettiquete.

(441) For the sin we committed before You

(442) by breach of trust.⁹⁵Denying that you owe someone a monetary debt when he asks for payment.—Siddur HaGra

(443) And for the sin we committed before You

(444) by a confused heart.⁹⁶This includes sins committed because of confusion, worry or pain, it also includes the sin of harboring doubts about the authenticity of the laws enacted by our Sages, and doubts about the fundamental principles of our faith, such as Divine Providence, reward and punishment, and also doubts about the authenticity of the Torah and the Prophets.—Siddur HaGra

(445) And for all of these, God of pardon,

(446) pardon us, forgive us,

(447) grant us atonement.

(18) Cursed be he who misdirects a blind person on his way.—And all the people shall say, Amen.