Ashamnu

Ashamnu is a short liturgical confession in Jewish prayer, most prominently used on Yom Kippur. The word Ashamnu means “we have sinned,” and it marks the opening word of this communal confession. The prayer is typically structured as an alphabetical acrostic, with lines that traditionally follow the Hebrew alphabet, though the exact wording varies among communities and rites. In Ashamnu, a broad range of sins is named, covering offenses against God and violations against other people, including deceit, dishonesty, oppression, and harmful speech. The text emphasizes communal responsibility, using the first-person plural “we” rather than the singular.

Usage of Ashamnu occurs as part of the vidui, the formal set of confessions recited during the Yom Kippur services. It is often included in the daytime service and may appear in Selichot prayers in the lead-up to the holiday. The Ashamnu is typically followed by a longer confession, such as al cheit, which expands the enumeration of sins and asks for absolution.

Origins and variations: The Ashamnu form has medieval origins and has been preserved in various Jewish liturgical traditions, including Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi rites. While there are regional and textual variations in the exact lines and order, the core concept remains: a communal admission of fault and a call to repentance and atonement.