Kol Nidre

Last night, Dennis and I attended Kol Nidre services at Beth Am.  The high point of the Jewish liturgical year held on Erev (evening before) Yom Kippur.  The Kol Nidre is an ancient aramaic prayer occurs near the very beginning of the service.  A very solemn atonement prayer.

This picture is not taken at Kol Nidre but does show the sanctuary of Beth Am and Rabbi Ruth Z (on the right).  With a previous Scholar-in-residence.  Rabbi Ruth presided last night.  They did have all the torahs out held by congregational members.  A little drama when one of the torah holders collapsed during kol nidre.  Rabbi Ruth caught the torah and put it back.  And several congregation members came up to minister to her and she eventually left the bima.

The Kol Nidre prayer is repeated three times and I've seen all kinds of variations.  Last night, it was first played on a violin then our Hassan (cantor) Victor G sang a fabulous dramatic solo version.  Whew, so wonderful.  The third time  was the congregation singing