Parshat Ki Tavo: The Jewish View of The Confessional

With Rosh Hashana and the Aseret Yomai Teshuva approaching, the topic of teshuva, repentance should be weighing on our minds. Although the classic commentaries differ on exactly how to define the process of teshuva, in essence, it comes down to five steps:

1. הכרת החטה - Recognizing our sin
2. חרטה - Regretting our sin
3. עזיבת החטה - Stopping the sin
4. קבלה לעתיד - Accepting upon ourselves not to commit that sin in the future
5. וידוי - Confessing or admitting the sin

Much has been written about each stage of the teshuva process, but here I focus on the last step, The Confessional. What exactly does Hashem expect from us? What exactly are we confessing to?

Interestingly, the concept of וידוי, confessing, comes from a mitzvah in this week’s parsha which does not seem to connect to sin or repentance. The mitzvah of Ma’aser, requires us to give 10% of our produce to the Levi. As part of giving these tithes, there is a process called Viduy Ma’aser. What kind of viduy is that? Why is it called confession? In fact, even the wording is strange, for a person says to Hashem,

וְאָמַרְתָּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן-הַבַּיִת, וְגַם נְתַתִּיו לַלֵּוִי וְלַגֵּר לַיָּתוֹם וְלָאַלְמָנָה, כְּכָל-מִצְוָתְךָ, אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתָנִי:  לֹא-עָבַרְתִּי מִמִּצְו‍ֹתֶיךָ, וְלֹא שָׁכָחְתִּי.

Loosely translated, this means the person says to Hashem that we have removed the holy things from the house and have given the correct things to the Levi, according to the commandment I have been commanded. Not only that, I have not missed this obligation and have not forsaken it.

It seems someone who can say this has much to be proud of. What then is the viduy? Where is the confession? Where is the sin?

Rav Soloveitchik has a novel insight shedding light on this obligation and the important message it imparts. The secret lies with one letter - a simple letter כ. When the pasuk says that “I did ככל, like all that you commanded me, the כ is making a powerful statement. I am saying I did “like,” everything you commanded me. In other words, I didn’t do what you commanded me perfectly, but rather I am confessing the commandment was done imperfectly; here in lies the confession.

Rabbi Yissocher Frand expounds on this idea by suggesting  if we each were to examine our deeds, we will find that we perform many beautiful mitzvot, but there is often something lacking in content and depth. We might be very careful with our observance of Shabbat, but do we treat the Shabbat with the respect it deserves? We might have a beautiful Shabbat meal, but do we keep our conversations Shabbat related, devoid of weekday planning or lashon hara? Similarly, many of us are careful to daven every day, but do we ensure we daven with a minyan? Do we spend the time we are in shul effectively, devoid of side conversations with our friends?

In essence, the obvious part of confessing is the distinct and blatant sins, the imperfections we should spend our lives seeking to improve upon. However, the message of viduy ma’aser is that we need to be more rigorous when exploring our spiritual growth; we need to investigate every aspect of our Avodat Hashem to insure we are doing our best. Let’s not convince ourselves we are ok the way we are. Remember that Hashem does not expect us to be perfect, but he does expect us to strive to our highest potential!