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This is the all inclusive expression of the fact that we transgressed in any of the numerous conceivable ways. It is comforting when I say this that I use the pronoun "we" and not "I", because everyone sins, it is just a question of magnitude. The seed of any wrongdoing begins in my mind, and if it stays there, I simply tap my heart and it doesn't hurt a bit. It is only when harm is done, with the concomitant reparations, that sinning starts to get serious. That is why I say vidui often. When evil thoughts remain thoughts and nothing more, progress can be made. I bet with practice, the thoughts won't appear in the first place.

What we did is disgusting. People do disgusting things and then the results appear on the cultural landscape. When we see, hear or sense them in any way, we feel disgust. It's hard to define but everyone knows what it feels like.

We robbed. When one person has power over another, he can forcibly take what he isn't entitled to have. Contrary to conventional wisdom, might does not make right. As soon as we start looking for weak people to take advantage of, the ball is set in motion for this kind of robbery. Strength need not be limited to physical might alone.

We slandered. When one has a grievance with someone or criticism the person needs to be confronted and the matter needs to be negotiated when the person has the ability to defend himself. A coward connives behind people's backs. All the theory of loshon horah is brought to bear on this matter.

We were perverse.

We were wicked.

A wicked person is a menace to everyone.

We willfully sinned.

We were violent.

We falsely accused.

We gave evil counsel.

We lied.

We scoffed.

We rebelled.

We provoked. A weak person can be compelled to do a bad thing. He is responsible, to be sure, but you are responsible too, maybe even more so.

We were disobedient.

We committed an iniquity. This is not an action but it reflects the character of an action. This reveals how hard it is to define a sin. If only it were so easy as to say "don't do this or don't do that". One must have the correct overall intentions and attitude both mentally and spiritually. It is you, and only you, who knows you are doing the right thing for the right reasons. Oh, and God as well, to be sure.

We wantonly sinned.

We oppressed. People need the freedom to choose for themselves. God gives it to all of us and we should too. When we compel people to do our bidding by force, we are no longer in the warmth of community, its all about you and only you. We may be in the driver's seat, but it is still necessary to ask permission and abide by the person's decision. Oppress a large group of people and we are nothing more than tyrants. They are going to hate us. Freely giving liberty is better for us in the grand scheme of things in addition to being the righteous thing to do.

We were stubborn. What's right is right and what's apparently true is unyielding. Refusing to admit the inevitable is not only immoral it's stupid as well.

We were evil. This is another all encompassing transgression. When we cause great harm to peace, goodness, blessing, life and kindness, and when there is no good reason to do so, this is the worst thing we can possible do. We are being malicious and sadistic.

We acted perniciously. We cause gradual and subtle harm that is not so easy to detect.

We acted abominably. We were powerfully out of control and wreaked havoc on a great deal of goodness.

We have gone astray.

We led others astray.

Words in blue are almost as difficult to define in English as they are in Hebrew, but we tried.

There are 3 levels of sin:

  • We caused harm through no intention or knowledge of our own. This is unavoidable and we aren't really doing anything wrong. The chachamim build fences around certain actions to mitigate this.

  • We can willfully sin when we can't resist the yetzer horah.

  • We can wantonly sin when we know, and everyone knows, something is terrible and we are out of control.

I do not take credit for this web page. The chachamim wrote it down hundreds of years ago, and it was originally given by Hashem to Moshe on har Sinai.

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