Vidui (A to Z)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 19 August 2004, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

As part of the Vidui ashamnu (Collective confession), the worshipers recite together a list of sins that go from alef ("A") to tav ("Z"): ashamnu, begadnu, gazalnu. . ., I translated this into an ABC story as follows:

WE SIN A-TO-Z. HELP-lf? TURN-DOWN-lf. (>) BAD, DO-UP-rt. (<) #DO-DO EMERGENCY, NOTHING-TO-IT. (>) GOSSIP, GOTCHA. (<) EGOTISM. (>) JEALOUS-of-lf, CARELESS. LATER, MURDER-lf. (<) HONOR-lf? (shake head) OPPRESS-lf PEOPLE@lf GUILTY. (>) RESPECT-G-d? (shake head) REBEL-AGAINST-G-d. (<) TRY ONE-UPSMANSHIP. (>) LOOK-AROUND WORLD, TEMPTED (2h)alt.ERR. LIGHTNING FINISHwg.


Notes: A-TO-Z - NDH [5], PO > signer, FO up, DH [A] is places on the NDS of the NDH and DH moves > DS while it changes to a [1] and traces out a "Z".

TURN-DOWN-lf - [A], PO > NDS, FO away, thumb is turned down.

DO-UP-rt - (2h)[C], move in small rising circles parallel to the chest, rising as they come together.

NOTHING-TO-IT - (2h)[F], POs away, FOs up, hands move slightly and symetrically from side to side.

GOTCHA - [U],touches Ft to lips then pronates FT to PO away and strikes at the air in front of the face.

EGOTISM - (2h)[I], alternate strike the thumbside on the chest.

ONE-UPSMANSHIP - (2h)[U], POs ><, FOs up, hands alt. strike at each other while both hands rise.

(2h)alt.ERR - hands alt. produce the sign MAKE-MISTAKE.

FINISHwg - (2h)[5], POs ><, FOs away, rise while twising hands rapidly at wrists.

For an in-depth analysis of each Hebrew word in the Vidui, see The Vidui Ashamnu (the shorter confession) from the Chayei adam, chapter 143; tr. Jonathan Baker, Yom Kippur 5760.

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