Kol Nidrei

Kol Nidrei is a text commonly recited in synagogues at the opening of Yom Kippur services. It consists of a declaration that all vows and prohibitions that one has taken upon themself should be nullified.

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The Customs of Kol Nidrei

HALAKHAH

Kol Nidrei, recited on the eve of Yom Kippur, is a deeply significant prayer that annuls vows and emphasizes communal and individual atonement. Rabbi Joseph Karo’s 16th-century Shulchan Arukh details the customs, prayers, and melodies associated with the Kol Nidrei service, emphasizing the importance of adhering to local traditions.

“The order (of prayer) on the Night of Yom Kippur” - Containing six paragraphs.
On the Night of Yom Kippur the custom is that the reader says, “In the court of high, in the court of low (earthly); with the consent of God and with the consent of the congregation, we are permitted to pray together with the transgressors”, and it is customary that he say “Kol Nidrei”, (“All the Vows”) (and the entire prayer that follows) and afterward he says (the prayer) “שהחינו” without a cup (of wine).
Hagah: And afterwards they say the Evening Prayer…

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 619:1

The Controversy of Kol Nidrei

TANAKH

The historical and halachic objections to Kol Nidrei, including concerns that it may lead people to treat vows lightly, make its continued recitation a fascinating topic. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explores the complexities and controversies surrounding Kol Nidrei, a central prayer of Yom Kippur, in his final compilation of essays.

The first time we hear of Kol Nidrei, in the eighth century, it is already being opposed by Rav Natronai Gaon, the first of many sages throughout the centuries who found it problematic. In his view, one cannot annul the vows of an entire congregation this way. Even if one could, one should not, since it may lead people to treat vows lightly. Besides which, there has already been an annulment of vows ten days earlier, on the morning before Rosh HaShana. This is mentioned explicitly in the Talmud (Nedarim 23b). There is no mention of an annulment on Yom Kippur.

I Believe; A Weekly Reading of the Jewish Bible, Ki Tissa; Moses Annuls a Vow 3

The Haunting Melody of Kol Nidrei

COMMENTARY

The haunting and ancient melody of Kol Nidrei evokes a profound sense of standing in the presence of God and connecting with the Jewish community across time and space. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explores the extraordinary emotional power of the Kol Nidrei melody, describing its ability to unite Jews globally in a shared moment of introspection and plea for forgiveness.

Music has extraordinary power to evoke emotion. The Kol Nidrei prayer with which Yom Kippur begins is not really a prayer at all. It is a dry legal formula for the annulment of vows. There can be little doubt that it is its ancient, haunting melody that has given it its hold over the Jewish imagination. It is hard to hear those notes and not feel that you are in the presence of God on the Day of Judgement, standing in the company of Jews of all places and times as they pleaded with heaven for forgiveness. It is the holy of holies of the Jewish soul.

Covenant and Conversation; Deuteronomy; Renewal of the Sinai Covenant, Ha'Azinu, The Spirituality of Song 12

The Power of Words

JEWISH THOUGHT

Kol Nidrei underscores the serious regard Jewish tradition has for the power of words, contrasting with the perception that words are insignificant. This prayer, recited at the beginning of Yom Kippur, annuls vows made during the year, emphasizing the importance of words and commitments in Jewish tradition.

Keeping the Word
Moving from ancient texts to ancient rituals, we integrate the seriousness of words in the Bible with our own practice. One of the most solemn prayers in the Jewish liturgical year is Kol Nidrei, the Yom Kippur service that ushers in the anxiety of judgment and atonement. The words, far from being spiritually uplifting, are technical expressions to cover any possible infraction in swearing, vowing, or committing oneself to a behavior that one simply cannot keep. The language of this contract/prayer attempts to capture every nuance of being bound by words…

Leadership in the Wilderness; Authority and Anarchy in the Book of Numbers, Part III, Chapter 13; Leadership and Language 13

Inspiration Before Kol Nidrei

HALAKHAH

The rabbi's sermon before Ma’ariv on Kol Nidrei night is crucial for inspiring character development and repentance. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary work, Peninei Halakhah, provides a thorough and accessible presentation of practical Jewish law, including the spiritual foundations of the laws and differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi practices.

In many congregations, the rabbi delivers a Kol Nidrei sermon before Ma’ariv that focuses on character development, inspiration, and repentance (Mateh Ephraim 619:9).

Peninei Halakhah, Days of Awe 7:11:8

Kol nidre, Wilhelm Wachtel - W bóżnicy 1900. Public Domain

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