The Need for Kol Nidre
By Mallory Thomason
We have been forgiven. Does that astound you? How can a holy, perfect, righteous Judge forgive a people who have so carelessly mistreated Him and each other. We have sinned, missed the mark. We have spoken, sworn, and made declarations needlessly. In our pride and self ambition we have become callous to His voice, and resisted His guidance. We have sought our own will. Forgive us, Lord, when we have been slow to listen and quick to speak and wielded an unbridled tongue. (from James 1:19-21,26)
“For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. See also the ships—though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member—yet it boasts of great things. See how so small a fire sets a blaze so great a forest! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil placed among our body parts. It pollutes the whole body and sets on fire the course of life—and is set on fire by Gehenna. For every species of beasts and birds, reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Adonai and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the image of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be. A spring doesn’t pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening, does it? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh water.” James 3:2-12, TLV translation
The Kol Nidre could best be described as a liturgical chant or declaration, even a legal formula to serve as an annulment of vows. It is understood to date back to ancient times. The earliest written versions date as far back as the ninth century. The Kol Nidre is recited on the evening of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, setting the tone for this solemn day. Here is an excerpt from a traditional Ashkenazi translation.
“All vows, and things we have made forbidden on ourselves, and oaths and items we have consecrated to the Temple, and vows issued with the expression “konum,” and vows which are abbreviated, and vows issued with the expression “kanos,” that we have vowed and sworn and dedicated and made forbidden upon ourselves; from this Yom Kippur until next Yom Kippur— may it come to us at a good time— We regret having made them may they all be permitted, forgiven, eradicated and nullified and may they not be valid and exist any longer. Our vows shall no longer be vows, and our prohibitions shall no longer be prohibited, and our oaths are no longer oaths.”
As I read this I think of Yeshua’s words recorded in Matthew:
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall carry out your oaths to Adonai.’ But I tell you, do not swear at all—not by heaven, for it is the throne of God; or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’—anything more than this is from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37, TLV translation
What wisdom from our Lord! How much unintentional grief and anguish could we spare ourselves and others from unnecessary thoughtless speech. I agree with David when he wrote, “Set a guard, Adonai, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3, TLV translation) I am humbled by the lovingkindness poured out from our Lord. Even in our struggle against sin and to walk in holiness He extends love with outstretched arms.
“But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities. The chastisement for our shalom was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray. Each of us turned to his own way. So Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, like a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” Isaiah 53:5-7, TLV translation
As we prepare our hearts to make teshuvah, returning back to the Lord as we enter into 5786, I would like to submit an alternate Kol Nidre, a Messianic Kol Nidre, for reflection. Listen to this original arrangement by Dr. Greg Silverman and meditate on the translation below.
Kol Nidre (Messianic) (based on the work of Barbara Tita)
English Translation
“All vows and prohibitions and exclusions and constraints and restraints and penalties and oaths which we may vow, or swear, or excommunicate, or exclude, or prohibit upon ourselves. Yes (that is) yes, no (that is) no are our words. But let your word be one hair to white or to black because you are not able to change. Don’t swear any oath not by heaven but more than this is from evil regarding us for good and not by Yerushalayim because it is the city of the great king. Not even by your head should you swear. Not height and not depth, nor principalities or powers will not be able to separate us from the love of G-d. And not by the earth, because it is His footstool.”
“Who can discern his errors? Cleanse me of hidden faults. Also keep Your servant from willful sins. May they not have dominion over me. Then I will be blameless, free from great transgression. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, Adonai, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:13-15, TLV translation
Click here for the lead sheet for “Kol Nidre (Messianic)” by Dr. Greg Silverman. For more Messianic Jewish worship resources visit www.ShalomSongs.com.