Kol Nidre, the service that introduces Yom Kippur, is powerful and iconic. How, and why, did a formulaic legal declaration about the vows we make take on such an exalted role? In this session, we will explore the music of Kol Nidre, as well as the meaning of the text, and unravel the source of its magic. We will compare the nusach (musical style of a community) we traditionally use to one from Morocco and see how each resonates with us emotionally. We will explore the history of Kol Nidre and develop an understanding of why, despite repeated attempts to remove it from our liturgy, it has remained the majestic overture to Yom Kippur.