In the confession, why do we say “but we and our FATHERS have sinned?”

by Rabbi Yossi Marcus

Library » Mitzvot » Prayer » About | Subscribe | What is RSS? PRINT EMAIL COMMENT The Chassidic master, Reb Elimelech of Lizensk, explained that you don’t want to incriminate yourself entirely in front of the prosecuting angel. So leave yourself an escape hatch by blaming it on some level on our ancestors. Incriminating them is not a concern, since they are already safe and sound in the Garden of Eden. (See also Etz Yosef on Otzar Hatefilot who gives the same explanation.) (This does not mean that you should not take full responsibility for your actions. You should. Here we’re talking about the specific spiritual concept of not incriminating yourself.) Source: Noam Elimelech on Vayishlach ADD A COMMENT Please email me when new comments are posted (you must be  logged in). RELATED CATEGORIES Mitzvot » Repentance Holidays » Yom Kippur » Repentance Holidays » Yom Kippur » The Prayers Email to a friend Post a comment cancel Loading...