5786/2025
“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me.” While this saying is popularly repeated, research, mental health professionals and lived experiences have proven it to be inaccurate. More aptly, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will surely harm me” captures the immense impact of words. Recognizing the power of words may be the reason why we begin our Yom Kippur davening, the introduction to the most pivotal day in the calendar, with the tefillah of Kol Nidrei. While Yom Kippur revolves around the Avodah of the Kohen Gadol, Vidu’i, and Kapparah, the Tefillah of Kol Nidrei has always garnered significant attention, as it focuses not on the aforementioned themes of Avodah or Kapparah, but rather on a somewhat legal process of annulling a vow previously made. Historically, the insertion of Kol Nidrei into our Yom Kippur Tefillah first appears around the ninth century, which furthers underscores the question of why it was added.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks zt”l suggests that one of the reasons we start Yom Kippur with Kol Nidrei is to emphasize the power of words. Our promises or vows have great significance, to the extent that they need to be undone before we can ask Hashem for forgiveness. We enter Yom Kippur reinforcing and reminding ourselves of the significance of speech. By articulating this at the onset of Yom Kippur, we are framing the day ahead, in which we utilize this power of words, through Tefillah and Vidu’i, to beseech Hashem.
There is one more element to speech, which also has a central role within Yom Kippur. The Torah describes, “B’Zot Yavo Aharon El HaKodesh” – with this Aharon will enter the Kodesh HaKedashim (VaYikra 16:3). What is “B’Zot - this” referred to in the Pasuk? Netziv suggests that “Zot” is a reference to “V’Zot HaTorah Asher Sam Moshe Lifnei Bnei Yisrael ” (Devarim 4:44), meaning it is a reference to Torah. The key to the Kohen Gadol entering the holiest place on the holiest day was bringing with him the words of Torah, that which Klal Yisrael had studied all year. Once again, words bring Kedushah; words build; words have an impact.
As we begin Yom Kippur, let us pause on focus on the power of speech; the power to use our words to build others, the power to use Tefillah to change the world, and the power of Talmud Torah to enable us to enter into a special bond with HaKadosh Baruch Hu.