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

September 21, 2019 - 12:45 pm - 3:00 pm

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.