Mystery of Kol Nidre unfolded

By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel

ENCINITAS, California —  Kol Nidre meaning all vows is an 8th century Talmudic legal document written to seek annulment of broken personal religious vows to God. It is in Aramaic, as is the Kaddish, and as a legal document there is no mention of God. Vows were taken very seriously, and supplicants appeared before three wise men (rabbinic court) and recited the Kol Nidre words three times to void their vows This ritual was practiced for centuries and eventually was added to the prayer book. Since it is not a prayer, it was placed before the actual beginning of Yom Kippur evening service.

According to another part of the Talmud it was made very clear that Kol Nidre only applies to vows made to God.

“If you have offended another person, forgiveness must be sought directly from the person so wronged.”

Based on these words a wonderful custom arose to ask one’s family and friends before Yom Kippur for forgiveness if they had accidentally or in any manner offended them.

The Kol Nidre ritual was especially important for Jews who had been forced to convert to Christianity upon pain of death during the 15^th century Spanish Inquisition. They were called the derogatory name of Maranos , meaning pigs.  A more appropriate name is conversos. Those who chose to attend a secret Yom Kippur evening service would recite the Kol Nidre words three times in order to participate.

In the 19^th century some rabbinic authorities challenged the too easy dispensation of vows, and removed Kol Nidre from the Ashkenazic prayer book.  Early Reform prayer books also omitted the Kol Nidre until 1961 when the growing membership of   traditional Jews urged its reintroduction.

The Kol Nidre ritual today is much different than its 8^th century version. The three Torah scrolls held facing the congregation now represent the tribunal of three wise men.  Instead of one person seeking an annulment of broken promises, it is now a choice for he entire congregation.

Orthodox cantors sing Kol Nidre three times, each time stronger, and in a higher key.  Reform cantors and choirs sing a dramatic and majestic version of Kol Nidre only once. They begin singing softly, slowly, and build to a thrilling crescendo with powerful voices of cantor, choir and organ. Before it is chanted in many Reform temples, a cellist plays a beautiful composition by Max Brock to set a somber mood. After the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and held facing the congregation, the cantor and choir chant the Kol Nidre.

You can listen to my recording of Kol Nidre performed in the sanctuary of Beth Israel in San Diego by clicking on the link at the bottom of this article

The Kol Nidre ritual and chanting is now more famous than its text, and the evening is even called Kol Nidre. Evidence of some semblance of a melody for Kol Nidre has been traced back to the 15^th century.  Through the centuries various composers added bits of music from liturgical chants, biblical cantilations, and even German troubadour songs.  After the melody was finalized, travelling cantors carried it throughout northern Europe, and now its chanted in most Ashkenazic congregations. Musical versions may vary slightly, but are basically quite similar.

Sephardic musical versions of Kol Nidre are based on simple chants from Babylonia (Iraq), and its text seeks annulment for broken vows from the past year, while Ashkenazic tradition seeks forgiveness for broken vows for next year. Some Sephardic congregations sing both versions. I guess they play it safe!

I hope my unfolding of Kol Nidre’s origin; challenges and changing ritual will enrich your understanding of Yom Kippur evening services.

Finally, here is the Ashkenazic translation:

“All vows we are likely to make, all oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce.   Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established.  Let our vows, pledges and oaths be considered neither vows nor pledges nor oaths.”

Kol Nidre services will be on Tuesday evening, October 8.

May you be inscribed for a sweet and healthy New Year in the Book of Life?  Shana Tovah u -m‘tu-kah.

Please click here to hear my recording of Kol Nidre arranged by Max Helfman.

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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel is Cantor Emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego