Archive for 2018
Text & Exploration of the Al Chet Section of Vidui (Confessions)
This article by Rabbi Shraga Simmons explores each line of part of the “Al Chet” portion of the Vidui confession, recited during each of the five prayer services on Yom Kippur. With guiding questions and ideas
Reb Zalman’s Alternative Hatarat Nedarim (Annullment of Vows)
This post presents an alternative English version to the Hatarat Nedarim ceremony, in which a person formally annuls his/her vows before Rosh Hashanah. Written by Reb Zalman Schacther Shalomi, one of the founders of the Jewish Renewal
Egalitarian Versions of Hu Ya’anenu (Selichot & Yom Kippur)
This post provides links to several different versions of “Hu Ya’anenu,” a prayer that recalls how God mercifully answered our forefathers in ancient times, assuring us that our prayers will be answered as
Ahavnu: A Positive Version of the Ashamnu Vidui Prayer
This post presents Rabbi Avi Weiss’ positive version of the Ashamnu prayer, an alphabetical acrostic of 22 sins recited during each of the five prayer services on Yom Kippur. Based on the idea
Guide to the Ashamnu Portion of the Vidui (Confessions)
This link provides introductory information to the “Ashamnu” part of the Vidui (Confession) liturgy, including the Hebrew, English and transliterated text, as well as a step-by-step guide for how to recite this prayer.
Yom Kippur: A Book of Jonah Rock Song
This animated music video connects the biblical story of Jonah, read during the Yom Kippur afternoon haftarah, to the day’s themes of repentance, atonement and forgiveness, as well as how the holiday connects us to
Moroccan Kol Nidrei
This audio recording (9:23) presents an authentic Moroccan Sephardi Kol Nidrei sung by Rabbi Eliahou Elbaz from Meknes, Morocco. In the opening services of Yom Kippur, Kol Nidrei proactively annuls any oaths made to God for the coming
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s Kol Nidrei
This 6 minute long audio recording features Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach singing a moving rendition of Kol Nidrei, the opening services on the eve of Yom Kippur, in which any oaths made to God for the coming year are
Neil Diamond’s Kol Nidrei from “The Jazz Singer”
This short clip is from the 1980 American drama film, The Jazz Singer, in which the son of a Jewish Cantor must defy the traditions of his religious father in order to pursue his
Conservative Kol Nidrei and Yom Kippur Evening Services
This excerpt from the Conservative Machzor Lev Shalom for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts for the entire Yom Kippur evening service, including Kol Nidrei, Selichot and Vidui. With commentaries and