The Briefing Room

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: andy58-in-nh on September 13, 2013, 11:55:01 pm

Title: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: andy58-in-nh on September 13, 2013, 11:55:01 pm

Some of you may know that I am Jewish and I just wanted to let you all know that this evening marks the start of Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Hebrew calendar. If there are others of the faith out there, I'd like to wish you a healthy and productive new year, which began on Rosh Hashonah, ten days ago.

For others, if you are interested, a little about this evening's traditions:

Kol Nidrei - Yom Kippur Eve

The opening prayer of Yom Kippur is the Kol Nidrei (or Kol Nidre) "annulment of vows" recited at sundown of Yom Kippur eve.

The Kol Nidrei service consists of the opening of the Ark and taking out the Torah scrolls, reciting the Kol Nidrei and returning the Torah scrolls to the Ark.

Kol Nidrei, the prayer which ushers in the holy day of Yom Kippur, is perhaps the most famous one in our liturgy. Ironically, it is not really a prayer at all, but rather a statement. A statement that deals with promises, vows and other sorts of verbal commitments commonly made in the course of the year. The Torah places strict demands on keeping one’s word, and not fulfilling a vow is considered a serious misdeed.

Kol Nidrei, which means "all vows", nullifies the binding nature of such promises in advance. One declares all future vows and promises invalid, by declaring that all vows are "absolved, remitted, cancelled, declared null and void, not in force of in effect." On Yom Kippur when the essence of the soul is fully revealed, we express our real attitude towards the imperfections which might slip into our behavior, in the coming year. They are thus denied and declared insignificant.

- Andy

Title: Re: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: GourmetDan on September 14, 2013, 12:11:08 am

Quote from: andy58-in-nh on September 13, 2013, 11:55:01 pm

Kol Nidrei, which means "all vows", nullifies the binding nature of such promises in advance. One declares all future vows and promises invalid, by declaring that all vows are "absolved, remitted, cancelled, declared null and void, not in force of in effect."

All future vows and promises are invalid?

Wow, interesting prayer...

Title: Re: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: mystery-ak on September 14, 2013, 12:15:01 am

To all our Jewish members...the header is in your honor....

Yom Kippur....G'mar Chatima Tova!
"May you be written in the Book of Life."

Title: Re: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: DCPatriot on September 14, 2013, 12:45:51 am

Remember Yom Kippur back in 1973?      :beer:

(http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~theed/Cold_War/d_Brezhnev_Era/e_Nixon_73_74/media/dd_YomKippurWar/Yom_Kippur_War_Golan_1.jpg)

Title: Re: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: DCPatriot on September 14, 2013, 12:47:02 am

(https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcScNc3qWdqKIriUVUGerWT0w4z6WCHmNDvWNoEcnW4Ha_HbAKJw)

Title: Re: Tonight is the start of Yom Kippur
Post by: Rapunzel on September 14, 2013, 03:12:42 am

Very interesting, Andy.  And all my best to you.