Editing Kol Nidre (section)

===Jewish opposition===

Five [[geonim]] (rabbinic leaders of medieval Babylonian Jewry) were against, while only one was in favor of reciting the formula. [[Saadia Gaon]] (early 10th century) wished to restrict it to those vows extorted from the congregation in the synagogue in times of persecution,<ref>[[Kol Bo]], 68</ref> and he declared explicitly that the "Kol Nidre" gave no absolution from oaths an individual took during the year.<ref name=Jewish_enc />

[[Judah ben Barzillai]] (Spain, 12th century), in his work on Jewish law "Sefer haIttim", declares that the custom of reciting the ''Kol Nidre'' was unjustifiable and misleading, since many ignorant persons believe that all their vows and oaths are annulled through this formula, and consequently they take such obligations on themselves carelessly.<ref name=Jewish_enc /> For the same reason [[Rabbenu Yerucham]] (Provence, 14th century) criticized those who, relying on ''Kol Nidrei'', made vows recklessly, and he declared them incapable of giving testimony.<ref>The Jewish encyclopedia cites the following references:
* ''Toledot Adam veHavah'', ed. 1808, section 14, part iii., p. 88
* Zunz, "G. V." p. 390</ref> Other prominent opponents of it in the Middle Ages include [[Yom Tov Asevilli]] ("Ritva", ca. 1330);<ref>In his "Ḥiddushim"</ref> [[Isaac ben Sheshet]] ("Rivash", d. 1406);<ref>Rivash, Responsa 394 (where is also a reference to the preceding)</ref> the author of the [[Kol Bo]] (15th century); and [[Leon of Modena]] (d. 1648).<ref>See [[N. S. Libowitz]], ''Leon Modena'', p.&nbsp;33, New York, 1901</ref> In addition, nearly all printed machzorim contain expositions and explanations of the "Kol Nidre" in the restricted sense mentioned above.