Editing Kol Nidre (section)

===Method of recitation===
As to the manner in which the hazzan (cantor) is to recite the ''Kol Nidrei'', the [[Simhah ben Samuel of Vitry|Mahzor Vitry]] (early 12th century) gives the following directions: "The first time he must utter it very softly like one who hesitates to enter the palace of the king to ask a gift of him whom he fears to approach; the second time he may speak somewhat louder; and the third time more loudly still, as one who is accustomed to dwell at court and to approach his sovereign as a friend." However, Rabbi Meier ben Yitzchak of Worms (11th century), author of [[Akdamut]], would sing it only twice, the Aleppo community would sing it seven times, and [[Yaakov ben Moshe Levi Moelin|Maharil]] (died 1427) would sing it repeatedly in various tunes to ensure that latecomers would hear it.<ref>Idelsohn, Abraham Z., ''Jewish Music: Its Historical Development'' (1929, NY, Henry Holt) page 159; Idelsohn, Abraham Z., ''Jewish Liturgy and Its Development'' (1932, NY, Henry Holt) page 374.</ref>

The number of Torah-scrolls taken out for the ''Kol Nidrei'' varied according to different customs. According to the custom of Frankfurt, no Torah Scrolls are removed; in other places one, two, three, seven, or even all that the synagogue possesses. The first Torah-scroll taken out is called the ''Sefer Kol Nidrei''.<ref>Scherman, Nosson, ''The Complete ArtScroll Machzor, Yom Kippur, Nusach Ashkenaz'' (1986, Brooklyn, Mesorah Publ'ns) p. 54; Nulman, Macy, ''The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer'' (1993, NJ, Jason Aronson) p. 204; Toledano, Eliezer, ''The Orot Sephardic Yom Kippur Mahazor'' (1997, Lakewood, NJ, Orot) p. 76.</ref>

Although ''Kol Nidrei'' is printed in every prayerbook for Yom Kippur, and it is commonly thought of as being the beginning of Yom Kippur, according to the opinion that it is annulling oaths from the previous year, it must be performed {{em|before}} the commencement of Yom Kippur, since such juridical business cannot take place on a holy day. ''Kol Nidrei'' should be recited before sunset, since dispensation from a vow may not be granted on the Sabbath or on a feast-day, unless the vow refers to one of these days.<ref>Steinsaltz, Adin, ''A Guide to Jewish Prayer'' (2000, NY, Schocken) p. 200.</ref> However, some communities (apparently Sephardic and in the minority) consider it proper to wait until nightfall, when Yom Kippur officially begins, before reciting Kol Nidre.<ref>Toledano, Eliezer, ''The Orot Sephardic Yom Kippur Mahazor'' (1997, Lakewood, NJ, Orot) p. 78.</ref> The men of the congregation wear their prayer shawls, one of the few times in the year that these are worn in the evening.<ref>Steinsaltz, Adin, ''A Guide to Jewish Prayer'' (2000, NY, Schocken) p. 200; Kieval, Herman, "The Curious Case of Kol Nidre", ''Commentary'' vol. 46, nr. 4, Oct. 1968 pp. 53–58, reprinted as "The Paradox of Kol Nidre" in Goodman, Phillip, ''The Yom Kippur Anthology'' (1971, Phil., Jewish Publ'n Soc.) pp. 95–96.</ref>  It would appear, in most congregations, that a sort of compromise has been adopted; Kol Nidre begins just before sundown, so by the time its last repetition is finished nightfall has commenced or is on the very cusp of commencing.<ref>e.g., Scherman, Nosson, ''The Complete ArtScroll Machzor, Yom Kippur, Nusach Ashkenaz'' (1986, Brooklyn, Mesorah Publ'ns) p. 843 (note nr.91), "The chazzan [cantor] should prolong the recitation of Kol Nidre until it is certainly night .... If Kol Nidre is over before nightfall, chapters of Tehillim [Psalms] should be recited...."</ref>