The Hidden Key

Why Do We Say Vidui on Erev Yom Kippur?

Something about Erev Yom Kippur seems really out of place.  

Let me explain.  Over Yom Kippur, we said vidui, the confession of sins, nine times.  But what seems out of place is that one of those times is during Mincha before we eat our final meal before Yom Kippur.  

We don’t shake our Lulav before Sukkot.  We don’t eat matzah on Erev Pesach.  In fact we’re forbidden to eat it before the Seder.  So why are we performing the essence of Yom Kippur before the holiday even starts?  

A common explanation is that we say vidui before Yom Kippur in case something unexpected happens, like choking on a bone at our meal and not having said vidui even once. 

But why is Erev Yom Kippur different from any other day? After all, the unpredictable can happen at any moment.

The difference is what we’re about to do. We are on the cusp of something incredibly powerful. 

The Satan knows this.