Archive/File: antisemitism/kol-nidrey
Last-Modified: 1997/10/14

"Kol Nidrey

Note: The legal declaration of Kol Nidrey is recited in the setting of a
formal court.  Two men holding Torah scrolls stand at either side of the
Chazzan [the Chazzan is the reader who leads a prayer service -- usually
_not_ the Rabbi], thus constituions a court (beth din) of three which is
required for the legal dispensation of granting dispensation from vows.

Hebrew transliteration: Bishivah shel malah u'bishivah shel matah, al
da'ath hamaqo v'al da'ath ha'qahal, ani mathirin l'hitpalel im
ha'avaryanim.

Translation: By authority of the court on high and by the authority of
this court below, with divine consent and with the consent of this
congregation, we hereby declare that it is permitted to pray with those
who have transgressed.

Hebrew: Kol nidrey ve'esarey vacharamey v'qonamey v'khinuyey v'qusey
u'shvuoth.  Dindarna u'd'ishthavana u'd'acharimna v'da'asarna al
nafshatana, miyom kipurim zeh al yom kipurim ha'ba aleynu l'tovah,
kulhon icharitna b'hon, kulhon y'hon sh'ran, sh'viqin sh'vithin b'telin
u'm'vutalin la sharirin v'la qayamin. nidrana la nidrey ve'esarana la
esarey u'shvuatana la shvuoth.

Translation: All vows and oaths we take, all promises and obligations we
make to God between this Yom Kippur and the next we hereby publicly
retract in the event that we should forget them, and hereby declare our
intention to be absolved of them.

Hebrew: v'nislach l'kol-adath b'ney yisrael v'lager hagar b'thokham ki
l'khol-ha'am bishgagah.

Translation: And all the congregation of the people Israel shall be
forgiven, as well as the stranger who dwells among them, for all the
people Israel acted in error (Numbers 15:26)

Hebrew: s'lach na la'aon ha'am hazeh k'godel chasdekha v'kha'asher
nashatha la'am hazeh mi'Mitzraim v'ad henah.  V'sham ne'emar:

Translation: In Your unbounded lovingkindness, please pardon the sin of
this people.  Forgive us as You have foriven our people through all
times (Numbers 14:19).

Hebrew: vayomer Hashem: salachti kidbarkha

Translation: Then the Lord said to Moses: "I have pardoned them, as you
have asked" (Numbers 14:20).

Hebrew: Barukh atah Hashem elohenu melekh ha'olam sh'hecheanu v'kimanu
v'higianu lazman hazeh.

Translation: Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, for
granting us life, for sustaining us, and for helping us to reach this
day.

(Note: Torah scrolls are returned to the Ark.)" (Harlow, 352-53)

Transcription note: No where in the preceding service are vows between people
forgiven; Kol Nidrey covers only vows between God and people.  For
forgiveness between vows broken btw. people, forgiveness must be asked
three times under Jewish law before forgiveness may be granted via
another prayer called "Al Cheyt."  But if you haven't made those three
attempts, the sin remains.

                             Work Cited

Harlow, Rabbi Jules, ed.  Machzor for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, 
New York: Rabbinical Assembly, 1972

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