Parsha_Push Parshat Ki Tavo

“A Positive Confession: More Than Just Saying ‘I’m Sorry'”

In recent years, a new trend has emerged on social media around the month of Elul: a kind of “positive confession”. Phrases like “I loved, I cried, I gave” and similar statements have become common. This positive confession, popularized by Rabbi Benny Holtzman, is rooted in the teachings of Rav Kook, who wrote: “Just as there is great benefit to spiritual healing in confessing sins, so too is there benefit in confessing one’s mitzvot, in order to rejoice in them and strengthen one’s path in life.”

Rav Kook’s words are based on a passage in this week’s Torah portion, which describes what the sages called “the confession of tithing”: “And you shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred from my house and also given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, according to all your commandments that you have commanded me; I have not transgressed from your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. I have not eaten of it while I was unclean, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I given any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God; I have done according to all that you have commanded me.'”

In this confession, the person does not declare his sins; he does not say “I was wrong”. On the contrary, he asserts: “I was right! I did what I was supposed to!” From this, Rav Kook and subsequent proponents of positive confession conclude that it is equally important to acknowledge the good we have done, not just to focus on the negative. While Rav Kook emphasizes the need to guard against arrogance, he also stresses the importance of recognizing our accomplishments.

However, I believe there is something more to this. The Torah doesn’t merely suggest that we pause to reflect on our good deeds; it provides a framework for doing so. When the elders and priests wash their hands over the ‘egla arufa’ and declare, “Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it,” they are not simply making excuses. Rather, they are held accountable for their actions. To honestly declare, “I have done according to all that you have commanded me,” one must continually measure their actions against a set of standards. He must know that he will be called upon to justify his behavior.

We all have positive qualities, and it is worthwhile to take time to appreciate them. At the same time, we must remember our responsibilities and strive to meet them. In a sense, the demand to