Page 150 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782
P. 150
Chayei Adam - K’lal 143 - Laws of Aseres Yemei Teshuva & Erev Yom Kippur
When reciting vidui one must understand what he is saying and say the words
slowly and carefully. It is better to say it once with kavana than saying it three
times quickly without kavana. Since the words of the vidui arranged by the earlier
chachamim are repetitive and not easily understood by most people, I have
drafted an explanation based on what I have gathered together from the writings
of the rishonim. This vidui was established according to those authorities who
hold that one does not need to specify his sins, and therefore utilizes the
references to which the Jewish people were referred. Since by sinning, a person
damages the twenty-two letter of the Torah, the vidui was established in the
order of the alphabet so that a person should specify his sins between the letters.
For example, after saying “ashamnu” (I have sinned), he should add “achalti davar
isur” (I ate a forbidden food).
* SEE APPENDIX C for the Chayei Adam’s explanation of the vidui.
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