The Hebrew term for the confession of sins recited on Yom Kippur is Vidui.
Vidui, also spelled Viddui or Viduy, is the Jewish practice of confessing wrongdoing before God as part of teshuvah, or repentance. It is a central feature of Yom Kippur’s prayer services, reflecting the day’s focus on atonement and moral repair.
The traditional confession has two major forms. Ashamnu is a shorter, alphabetically arranged list of sins beginning with “We have sinned,” while Al Chet is a longer confession that names many kinds of wrongdoing. Worshippers commonly recite these texts communally and privately, often striking the chest lightly as a physical sign of remorse.
Vidui does not mean that simply saying words automatically repairs every wrong. Jewish tradition distinguishes sins against God from offenses against other people: Yom Kippur addresses the former, but harm done to another person requires seeking that person’s forgiveness. Vidui is therefore one part of repentance, alongside regret, resolve, and efforts to make amends.