Photoessay #477 - Kol Nidre

Last night, I attended Kol Nidre services with Ilana and Naomi. This morning, they went to the morning services at Kadima. The services continue with discussions into the afternoon. They intended to come back, do some cooking and go to the break-the-fast. However Ilana has to work at 7pm when the potluck takes place and she traded evening hours at the Business Library to go to Kol Nidre so that plan is awry.

They both intend to fast, it's now the afternoon they've just returned home. It was long, they report and they had discussions afterwards.

The Kol Nidre is the liturgical climax of the year. A curious ancient prayer, originally in Aramaic. Looking around on the net, I can see there are tremendous variations (as usual in Judaism) about what it says and means. I will take the translation out of the Reform prayer book that I have.

"Let all our vows and oaths, all the promises we make and the obligations we incur to you, O God, between this Yom Kippur and the next, be null and void should we, after honest effort, find ourselves unable to fulfill them. Then may we be absolved of them"

There are many many translations and interpretations. Not exactly spiritual, uplifting, doesn't demonstrate piety. One controversy brought up last night is that some think this applies from last Yom Kippur to this one, some say it applies to the future. Look around and you will find other translations and you wonder if it's the same Kol Nidre????

But there's always anticipation and solemnity. I've seen many variations in my 56 years. My mother always said "We canNOT be late, I don't want to miss the Kol Nicre" It is a great honor and responsibility to sing or chant Kol Nidre" Oddly, it's often a paid gig. One year, I saw it mournfully and emotionally chanted. Usually it's done to a traditional melody, very slow and dirdgey. Often done with the musical accompaniment, violin or cello. Usually done several times. Last night, a violinist played it, then a congregation member sung it and then the congregation sung it two more times.

To me, there's a feeling of release afterwards, like we've done our duty. Other various listing out of transgressions and invocations to atone and improve ourselves. Some chanted with the hand beating the chest.

Picture shows the shofar blown on Rosh Hashonah ten days previous. But I think the shofar is played at the end of the day to signify the end of Yom Kippur.

"The Neilah service marks the closing of God's Book of Life with shofar's "Tikiah Gedolah," the great shofar blast. There is a Tikiah Gedolah at Rosh Hashonah, but the LAST great trumpet blast is on Yom Kippur. "

Tikiah Gedolah is one of the callings for the sequence of the shofar. There's always one call at the end which is very very very long. The community considers the blowing of the shofar a great honor and is often passed down through families. On this last call, the player blows as long as they can. Afterwards, there's a bustling of amazement and congratulation.

My mother always enjoys the Yitzkor or memorial service which is held in the late afternoon. Last night, right before the Kaddush, when the leader was asking for names of who have passed during the past year, Naomi stood up and called out "Mr. Doi", referring to Rob Doi, Jannelle's dad. I was proud of her for doing that.

One image that has always piqued my interest is the Book of Life. "On Rosh Hashonah it is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed" who will live and who will die, who is righteous, etc

I was heartened to see quite a few familiar faces at the Kadima service last night but somehow I was never able to make connection.