Promises, Promises: How Kol Nidrei Got Its Groove with Rachel Adelstein

The opening phrase of “Kol Nidrei” is one of the most famous sounds in the Jewish musical repertoire, performed every year by cantors, choirs, cellists, and many more.  How did a relatively dry legal declaration become a source of danger and contention for Jewish communities, a masterpiece of the cantor’s art, and the emotional climax of the first “talkie” film?  Join ethnomusicologist Rachel Adelstein for a tour of this beautiful, nostalgic, and often misunderstood part of the High Holy Days liturgy.