Confession before Death

CONFESSION BEFORE DEATH The Shulchan Aruch code of law instructs: “If you feel death approaching, recite the Vidui confession. Be reassured by those around you: ‘Do not fear. Many have said the Vidui confession and then recovered. With the merit of your confession, may you live.’ If you are unable to recite it aloud, say it in your heart. And if you are unable to recite it, others may recite it with you or for you.”34

יֵהֹלאֵו יַהֹלֱא הוהי ,ךיֶנָפְל יִנֲא הֶדוֹמ .ךְדָיְּב יִתָתיִמוּ יִתאָוּפְרֶׁש ,יַתוֹבֲא

יֵהֹלאֵו יַהֹלֱא הוהי ,ךיֶנָפְל יִנֲא הֶדוֹמ .ךְדָיְּב יִתָתיִמוּ יִתאָוּפְרֶׁש ,יַתוֹבֲא האָוּפְר יִנֵאְּפַרְּתֶׁש ךיֶנָפְלִמ ןוֹצָר יִהְי .הָמֵלְׁש לַע הָרָּפַּכ יִתָתיִמ אֵהְּת ,תוּמאָ םִאְו יִתאָטָחֶׁש ,םיִעָׁשְפוּ תוֹנוֲֹעַו םיִאָטֲח לָּכ .ךיֶנָפְל יִּתְעַׁשָּפֶׁשְו יִתיִוָעֶׁשְו

.םיִקיִּדַצַל ןוּפָצַה אָּבַה םָלוֹעָל יִנֵּכַזְו .יִל אָנ אָפְר אָנ לֵא I acknowledge before You, Adonai my God and God of my ancestors, that my healing and my death are in Your hands. May it be Your will to send me a refuah sheleimah/ complete healing.

Yet, if [and when] I am to die, may my death be an atonement for the ways I have missed the mark, sinned, and transgressed, before You. Grant me the joyful equanimity that is stored for the righteous. Please God, heal me, please.

34 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 339.

When the end is approaching, say the following. It can be repeated. Seek to say the Shema when the soul leaves the body.

Repeat once דֶעָו םָלֹעְל ךֹלְמִי ָיְי ךַלָמ ָיְי ךֶלֶמ ָיְי Adonai is majesty, Adonai was majesty, Adonai will be majesty, for ever and ever.

Repeat three times דֶעָו םָלוֹעְל וֹתוּכְלַמ דוֹבְּכ םֵׁש ךוּרָּב Blessed is the name of His glorious majesty for ever and ever.

Repeat seven times םיִהֹלֱאָה אוּה ָיְי Adonai is God

Once דָחֶא ָיְי וּניֵהֹלֱא ָיְי לֵאָרְשִׂי עַמְשׁ Hear, Israel: Adonai our God, Adonai is One.