Jewish tradition is internally oriented and self-reflecting. As the concluding refrain of Yom Kippur, the Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father Our King, splits the difference between maintaining vigilance vis-a-vis anti-Jewish violence and communal sin and iniquity. The prayer holds the tense balance between the scourge of people who hate us and the core problem of communal transgression. Deeply skeptical, there’s not much one can do, only God can blot out both.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ חַדֵּשׁ עָלֵֽינוּ שָׁנָה טוֹבָה:

Our Father, our King! renew for us a good year

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בַּטֵּל מֵעָלֵֽינוּ כָּל גְּזֵרוֹת קָשׁוֹת:

Our Father, our King! annul all harsh decrees concerning us.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ בַּטֵּל מַחְשְׁבוֹת שׂוֹנְאֵֽינוּ:

Our Father, our King! annul the designs of those who hate us.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ הָפֵר עֲצַת אוֹיְבֵֽינוּ:

Our Father, our King! thwart the plans of our enemies.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כַּלֵּה כָּל צַר וּמַשְׂטִין מֵעָלֵֽינוּ:

Our Father, our King! rid us of every oppressor and adversary.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ סְתוֹם פִּיּוֹת מַשְׂטִינֵֽנוּ וּמְקַטְרִיגֵֽנוּ:

Our Father, our King! close the mouths of our adversaries and our accusers.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ כַּלֵּה דֶּֽבֶר וְחֶֽרֶב וְרָעָב וּשְׁבִי וּמַשְׁחִית וְעָו‍ֹן מִבְּנֵי בְרִיתֶֽךָ:

Our Father, our King! remove pestilence, sword, famine, captivity, destruction and [the burden of] iniquity from the members of Your covenant.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מְנַע מַגֵּפָה מִנַּחֲלָתֶֽךָ:

Our Father, our King! withhold the plague from Your inheritance.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ סְלַח וּמְחַל לְכָל עֲו‍ֹנוֹתֵֽינוּ:

Our Father, our King! forgive and pardon all our iniquities.

אָבִֽינוּ מַלְכֵּֽנוּ מְחֵה וְהַעֲבֵר פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ וְחַטֹּאתֵֽינוּ מִנֶּֽגֶד עֵינֶֽיךָ:

Our Father, our King! blot out and remove our transgressions and sins from before Your eyes.