Kol Nidrei

Kol Nidrei is an enigma wrapped in mystery, the strangest prayer ever to capture the religious imagination.                        Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Koren Sacks Yom Kippur Mahzor 

Although "Each Jewish generation gave Kol Nidrei a different meaning and significance." (Rabbi Stuart Weinberg Gershon), it is actually every Jewish community and individual gives Kol Nidrei a meaning that meets their personal and communal needs. As Jews we are experts in deriving meaning from unlikely texts (Kol Nidrei itself), unsubstantiated "historical" theories (the Converso [Marrano] origin of KN) and even typographical errors (reading Iberians for Avaryanim-sinners in the introductory passage).

Kol Nidrei might signify the beginning of a 25-hour court room drama in which we re-evaluate our lives, or it might form a bubble in time to help us re-start our journey in the new year or it might focus us on the need to take our words seriously or _____________________ (fill in the blank).

Gmat Hatima Tova