Vidui

by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, originally published in The Jewish Week

For the mitzvah we performed by remembering the good another had done for us even when we were upset with him or her; For the mitzvah we performed by stopping our child from teasing, humiliating or calling another child by a hurtful nickname; For the mitzvah we performed by standing up for justice when we saw another mistreated; For the mitzvah we performed by refusing to buy products produced by child labor; For the mitzvah we performed by remembering to thank and express gratitude to anyone who has helped us; For the mitzvah we performed when we heard an ambulance siren and offered a prayer to G-d on behalf of the sick person inside; For the mitzvah we performed when we provided food or money to a beggar who told us he was hungry; For the mitzvah we performed by donating charity cheerfully; For the mitzvah we performed by apologizing to one of our children whose feelings we had unfairly hurt...

ALL THESE THINGS GOD, PLEASE REMEMBER, AND PLEASE HELP INSPIRE US TO DO MORE SUCH ACTS DURING THIS COMING YEAR

For the mitzvah we performed by blessing our children on Shabbat and on the Jewish holidays; For the mitzvah we performed by returning a lost object to its owner; For the mitzvah we performed by visiting a sick person and offering emotional support to him and his family; For the mitzvah we performed by helping someone to find work; For the mitzvah we performed by teaching our children Torah; For the mitzvah we performed by ourselves studying Torah; For the mitzvah we performed by teaching our children that what matters most to G-d is how we treat other people, for they, like us, are G-d's children; For the mitzvah we performed by hearing a negative rumor about another and refraining from passing it on; For the mitzvah we performed by refraining front snapping at the person who has chosen to share our life-our spouse...

ALL THESE THINGS GOD, PLEASE REMEMBER, AND PLEASE HELP INSPIRE US TO DO MORE SUCH ACTS DURING THIS COMING YEAR

For the mitzvah we performed by being compassionate and forgiving those who have hurt us and who seek our forgiveness; For the mitzvah we performed by helping a developmentally disabled person find work; For the mitzvah we performed by not unfairly exaggerating the bad traits of those with whom we disagree or whom we dislike; For the mitzvah we performed by striving to arrive on time even when it was difficult to do so, so as to not keep another person waiting; For the mitzvah. we performed by interacting with non-Jews in a manner that brings credit on the Jewish people; For the mitzvah we performed by accepting responsibility for the wrong we have committed, and by not blaming our bad behavior on someone else; For the mitzvah we performed by asking those whom we have hurt for forgiveness; For the mitzvah we performed by staying in close communication with our elderly parents; For the mitzvah we performed by not serving liquor with an overly generous hand at social events; For the mitzvah we performed by not using words such as "always" (e.g., "you're always inconsiderate") and "never" when we are angry with another; For the mitzvah we performed by not making comments that can inflict irrevocable hurt on one with whom we are angry...

ALL THESE THINGS GOD, PLEASE REMEMBER, AND PLEASE HELP INSPIRE US TO DO MORE SUCH ACTS DURING THIS COMING YEAR