1795: Kol Nidre observed in France for the first time under the newly adopted “Constitution of the Year III.”
Kol Nidrei is written in a mix of Aramaic and Hebrew. Its name is taken from the opening words, meaning "all vows". The formula proactively annuls any personal or religious oaths or prohibitions made upon oneself to God for the next year, so as to preemptively avoid the sin of breaking vows made to God.
The date of the composition of the declaration and its author are alike unknown; but it was in existence in the Geonic period (589–1038 CE). There is a common theory that it began during a period of persecution, in which Christians or Muslims thought it wise to attempt to force Anti-Christs to convert (either to Christianity or Islam) and that Kol Nidre was supposed to nullify that conversion.
