An “Opposite Confession” Fortifies the Fight to Continue to Save Lives

The renewed embrace of an often debilitating journey achieved by looking through a powerful new lens

As a Conservative Jew, I have attended High Holy Day services since I was a small child. The High Holy Days begin with Rosh Hashanah—the start of the Jewish New Year. It is celebrated 10 days before the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.*

Every year, during Yom Kippur services, Jews recite prayers of “confession” that are central to the Yom Kippur liturgy. During the confessional, congregants plead for absolution of any sins that may they have committed during the year just ended. The “short confession” reads as follows:

We have trespassed; we have dealt treacherously; we have robbed; we have spoken slander; we have acted perversely; we have done wrong; we have acted presumptuously; we have done violence; we have practiced deceit; we have counseled evil; we have spoken falsehood; we have scoffed; we have revolted; we have blasphemed; we have rebelled; we have committed iniquity; we have transgressed; we have oppressed; we have been stiff necked; we have acted wickedly; we have dealt corruptly; we have committed abomination; we have gone astray; we have led others astray.

Yom Kippur is a day of total fasting, deep introspection and difficult personal reckonings.

But this year, during services in our synagogue, something occurred (quite unexpectedly) which, for me, greatly magnified the awe-inspiring solemnity of the day. There we were, pleading before the open gates, imploring G-d to seal us in the Book of Life for the coming year before sundown, when the gates would close.

Then our rabbi told us the story of Rabbi Avi Weiss, the founding rabbi of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in the Bronx, New York. As it turns out, several years ago, Rabbi Weiss proposed an “opposite recitation” of the confession as part of Yom Kippur prayers, so that congregants could also turn their thoughts to the good things they have done during the year. “A person should also be joyous concerning the good he or she has done,” wrote Rabbi Weiss. “It follows that just as there is a great benefit to self-improvement through confessing one’s sins, so is there great benefit to confessing one’s good deeds.”

Then, from the pulpit, our rabbi read the “opposite confession” Rabbi Weiss wrote.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the rabbi read aloud. With the recitation of each good and righteous deed, I closed my eyes. Soon, the faces of all of my colleagues at the Frontline COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) with whom I have soldiered without end for over 2 1/2 years began to appear in my mind. Our shared mission — to utilize irrefutable scientific evidence to save every life we possibly could during the pandemic and beyond — was embedded in each utterance. (Read about the FLCCC HERE; and about the coordinated, global efforts to silence and demonize the world’s foremost COVID-19 scholars and experts HERE and HERE and HERE.)

Throughout our arduous, exhilarating, tragic, fulfilling, heartbreaking, humane, debilitating journey together, I recognized that the FLCCC — along with its legions of benevolent, indomitable souls and supporters around the world — embodied the foundational humanitarian ideals (in BOLD, below) expressed in Rabbi Weiss’ “opposite” confession.

We have loved our fellow human beings.

We have grown in knowledge, strength and perseverance.

We have spoken positively of the rigorous science that saved millions. 

We have raised up those who were broken by the ravages of COVID-19.

We have shown compassion to those who suffered.

We have acted enthusiastically when we developed safe treatment protocols.

We have been empathetic to the plight and fear of people around the world and in our own communities during the pandemic.

We have cultivated truth, because that is what mattered most in the fight to protect lives.

We have given good advice—guidance that was rooted in deep scientific evidence.

We have respected the rights of every human being to be free to direct their own health care.

We have learned and shared our knowledge.

We have comforted those in distress.

We have been creative, employing innovative thinking and clinical expertise to find ways to conquer a novel disease.

We have stirred others to reject and object to those who would censor and malign lifesaving science.

We have been just in the pursuit of the holiest work of all—saving human lives.

We have been merciful at a time when mercy was captured by those with inhumane agendas. 

We have given full effort to every aspect of our work—everyday.

We have supported those who courageously fought to secure health freedom for all.

We have contributed to the building of a better, more just world.

We have helped to repair a world broken by greed and wanton disregard for humanity.

This “confession” soothed my heart, because I could so easily connect every one of its core tenets to the holy work in which the FLCCC is engaged daily. Because the work of the FLCCC is a rigorous, 24/7/365 pursuit, it is easy to grow weary—physically and emotionally—and subsequently fall into feelings of despair, disillusionment, anger, frustration and (heaven forbid) resignation. 

I am pained that I am wholly unable to find the precise— even magical — combination of words to place in this essay that would make the censors cease, the profit-takers turn instead towards the pricelessness of humanity, the bearers of false witness renounce their deceitful testimonies, and the oppressors recognize the lifesaving gifts of those upon whose necks they press their sharp, cleated boots.

I have written before on this platform—as have many others— on some of the travails the FLCCC and other similarly focused medical, justice and advocacy organizations have endured. To my knowledge, the perpetrators of what can now rightly be called “crimes against humanity” remain unbowed…vowing instead to continue their campaigns against any who respect the science and treat their patients “off-script”— as doctors have done (and MUST be allowed to continue to do) for decades and decades.

Though Yom Kippur has passed, I feel that referring to Rabbi Weiss’ “opposite confession” often will fortify me as the fight continues. For what could be more important than saving human lives? For this reason alone, we must forge forward with resolve—knowing that with every heartbeat, we are doing the work of our revered and shared Creator.

With profound respect and love for Dr. Paul Marik, FLCCC Chief Scientific Officer, and Dr. Pierre Kory, FLCCC Chief Medical Officer, who have sacrificed so much to save so many.

*(The holidays of Sukkot (gathering in of the harvest), Shemini Atzeret (prayers for rain) and Simchat Torah (celebration of the conclusion of the Torah and the start of another reading cycle) follow a few days after Yom Kippur—completing the celebrations that comprise the entirety of the High Holy Days.)