Kol Nidre

Kol Nidre ( Aramaic: כל נדרי " all vows ") is a formulaic statement that before the evening prayer of the Day of Atonement ( Yom Kippur Hebrew ) is spoken. According to this explanation, the entire evening prayers on Yom Kippur is often called.

History

The origin of the Kol Nidre is unknown. This is done with many theories, but which have all proved inconclusive. For example, Joseph Samuel Bloch formulated in 1917 a true dramatic, but not finished theory that Kol Nidre in response to forced conversions of Jews to Christianity was that, and especially in Spain in the 7th century under the Visigoths, in Byzantium 700-850 to have taken place from 1391 to 1492 under the Spanish Inquisition.

Even in early times numerous vows were spoken in Judaism, which parallel the need arose to withdraw this. Such absolution could either by a scholar or done by an assembly of three laymen. This first probably personal debt forgiveness found with time moving into the liturgy of the Day of Atonement. But most of all rabbis from the Babylonian academies at Sura and Pumbedita opposed the formula of Kol Nidre, and also the Karaites turned always strongly opposed. Some of the study of the Talmudic tractate Nedarim was even restricted. Originally, the Kol Nidre was applied committed to the forgiveness debt to God. It was only in the 12th century it was converted at the instigation of Rabbeinu Tam that it concerned future vows. In the 13th century German Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg added a formula that is recited to this day before the actual Kol Nidre three community members:

"Before the heavenly court and before the earthly court, with the consent of God and with the consent of this congregation, we confirm that it is allowed (together) to pray with transgressors. "

In reformed Judaism, the Kol Nidre long time, the example of the Hamburg Temple since 1818 and David Einhorn was next, banished from the prayerbooks for Yom Kippur. A major reason why it is recited again today anyway in most Jewish communities, lies in its emotional significance. The melody of Kol Nidre is one of the most famous examples of Jewish music and found by Max Bruch ( for cello and orchestra) into art music. The recording in 1968 with the cellist Jacqueline du Pré and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim became known. In his work of the same op 39 for narrator, chorus and orchestra Arnold Schoenberg processed some of the traditional motifs.

Content

Actually, Kol Nidre is a revocation of all personal vows, oaths and promises to God that were stored unwittingly or rashly. Basically, the believer should refrain from vows according to Deuteronomy 23:23 EU. Verse 24 EU obliged also observed Quite pronounced. A spoken oath before God knowingly has therefore continue to be valid. Nevertheless, the Kol Nidre was a popular target for anti-Semitic interpretations. The view of the Jewish faith allow the Kol Nidre, for example, perjury in court or through this prayer all contracts between Jews and non- Jews would be invalidated, is wrong.

The older Sephardic version of Kol Nidre and the Ashkenazi version, which dates from the Middle Ages are slightly different from each other. In the Ashkenazi version of the future tense is used: " All vows which we speak of now until the next day of atonement ...", in the Sephardic the past tense.

Rite

On the Day of Atonement, the believer stands during the first spoken in the synagogue prayer. Here, the short Kol Nidre is repeated three times. Thus you get into an agreement with God Almighty that any oath, vow every, every word of honor that you are inconsiderate next year for themselves personally or in relation to the communal regulations, shall be void.

The Kol Nidre in the wording

" All vows, prohibitions, spells, descriptions and all are alike, penalties and oaths, which I vow to swear utter a spell to me as a ban impose by this Yom Kippur, until the salvific next Yom Kippur. All I regret all be triggered enacted, repealed, invalid and destroyed without legal force and not in stock. Our vows are not vows, our oaths no oaths. "