Kol Nidre Introduced
The Kol Nidre prayer is a controversial Aramaic prayer annulling vows made before God> It is sung by Jews around the at the opening of the Day of Atonement service on the eve of Yom Kippur.
Many Rabbis tried to prevent this prayer from the tradition. Although for the most part it is now accepted tradition from time to time the controversy still appears. Although it is supposed to be chanted many just read it as a personal confession.
Watch this brief video explaining this prayer.
Kol Nidre Explained
All Vows
Prohibitions, oathes, consecration, vows that we may vow, swear, consecrate, or prohibit upon ourselves.
From this Yom Kippur until the next Yom Kippur, may it come upon us for good-regarding them all, We regreat them henceforth.
They will all be permitted, abandoned, cancelled, null and void, without power and without standing.
Our vows shall not be valid vows; our prohibitions shall not be valid prohibitions
and our oaths shall not be valid oathes.
Cantor singing the Kol Nidre
Jacqueline du Pré/Daniel Barenboim/Israel Philharmonic Orchestra
Additional Readings
For additional history about the Kol Nidre you can read “The Untolded History of Kol Nidre“.
Safaria – provides three English texts and nine sheets on the Kol Nidre. The Three text are one is from Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim, 619. The other two are “English Explanation of Mishnah Nedarim” by Dr. Joshua Kulp.
