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Another problem- involves the col-
lective nature of the Kol Nidrei text
— the pronouns are all plural. Many 1
Torah scholars have pointed out that
inasmuch as Judaism places respon-
sibility for each person's actions
upon himself, the annulment of vows
is an act of the individual and can-
: not be extended to a community or

Kol Nidrei
Resources

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer

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n in-depth study of the
meaning, words and
of
music the Kol Nidrei service
is available through a variety
of media.
Some include:

• The Magic of Kol Nidre: A

Yom Kippur Story by Bruce H.
Siegel, and illustrated by Shelly
0. Haas, 1998, Kar Ben
Copies. This winner of the
1999 Honor Book Association
ofiewish Libraries Sydney Tay-
lor Award reviews the signifi
cance of the Kol Nidrei ser-
vices by a man at three stages

Shevuei are oaths by which a per-
son obligates himself to do or refrain
from doing something. This is in con-
trast to the neder, where the focus is
on an item. In a shevua, attention is
pointed to the person.
Charamei are consecrations, formu-
las used to sanctify something as the
property of the priests or of the Temple.
Konamei and
are
kinusei
Chang (1999). Available at
vows, used in
arnozon.com ($1 1.97).
the same way
• KoI Nidrei Service with
as the neder.
Richard Tucker. Performed by
Chinuyei
the late Cantor Richard 'Tucker,
means "equiva-
with conductor/composer
lent terms," a
Sholom Secunda; with R.
catchall for any
Drillings, Joseph Garnett, Ben
other vow
living and M. Rogoff. Sony
involving termi-
Classics, 1993. Available at
nology that may
amazon.com (CD/$10.49;
have come into
cassette/$5.68).
vogue.
* www4ewfaq.org offers an

dure of nullification, it had no legal
status. Rabbeinu Tam then changed
the text to refer to the future. He
based this on the talmudic principle
that one may nullify in advance any
vows subsequently uttered.
Rabbeinu Tam's revision (in Arama-
ic) became standard for all Ashke-
nazi Jews. Most non-Ashkenazim

in his life; as a child, a new
father and a grandfather. Avail-
able through amazon.com in
paperback for children ages 4
8 (S6.95); in hardcover for
children 9-12 (S 16.95).

-

The Magic of Kol Nidre

A 1'ON.1 KIPPUR STORY

•

:

audio portion of the traditional
Kai Nidrei tune, along with a
description of its history and
meaning.

Famous
Music

Traditionally,
Kol Nidrei is
• An Indepth Look at The
chanted to an
Essence of KoI Nidrc; by Rabbi ancient melody
Shalom Tendler of Yeshiva of
• Kol Nickel Variations. Pianist
that may be
Los Angeles given on Oct. 2,
Ben Zebelman leads piano trio
the best-known
1995, an audiotape of tape
compositions based on the Kol
synagogue
by Ivan Norman may be
Nidrei tune, with Maureen
music in
accessed at WV11114613.org
McDermott and Etizaneth
history.
In 1880, com-
poser Max Bruch wrote an arrange-
I recite a Hebrew text that still refers to
a congregation.
ment of Kol Nidrei for cello and
past vows.
Nonetheless, it is the cantor,
orchestra. For this reason, some peo-
flanked by two others, who tradition-
ple believe Bruch was Jewish; he
Listing Commitments
ally recite Kol Nidrei. The two are
was
not, but instead was commis-
Being a highly developed legal sys-
usually the rabbi and another distin-
sioned for the work by the Jewish
tem, Judaism makes fine distinctions in
guished member of the congrega-
community of Liverpool.
the different types of commitments that
tion; they, in effect, form a "court."
(Keep in mind that Bruch, a Ger-
people make. The text of Kol Nidrei
As a formal act of the beit din, Kol
man,
also composed the "Scottish
lists some of these.
Nidrei, like all legal pronounce-
Fantasy.")
The first, by which Kol Nidrei is
ments, must be made during the day
The Kol Nidrei service ends with a
named, is the neder, or vow.
— hence, its recitation before sunset.
plea for forgiveness and the
This is a prohibition imposed by a
The original text of Kol Nidrei (the
Shechechiyanu prayer, traditionally
person upon himself and it follows
earliest example dates from the ninth
recited to thank God for life and
a specific formula: "This item is for-
century C.E.) referred to vows and
allowing
us to reach this holiday.
bidden to me as if it were a Temple
oaths made during the previous year.
In many congregations, Kol Nidrei
offering."
In the 12th century, the grandson of
is
followed by the rabbi's sermon,
Next comes esarei ("prohibitions"),
Rashi, Rabbi Yaacov ben Meir Tam
an appeal for charity, or both.
a self-imposed prohibition that's easy
(known as Rabbeinu Tam), and oth-
Other congregations go directly into
to make. A person simply says, for
ers, objected to this wording. They
the Maariv service, and those lucky
example, "All high-fat foods are for-
argued that, because Kol Nidrei did
people get to go home early. ❑
: bidden to me."
not conform to the halachic proce-

-

❑