Kol Nidre oath

A one-year, renewable license to lie, cheat and steal with impunity, all based on a decree from the Jews' so-called holy book, the Talmud, which says:

And he who desires that none of his vows made during the year shall be valid, let him stand at the beginning of the year and declare, "Every vow which I make in the future shall be null." (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Nedarim 23a & 23b)

Among those reciting the Kol Nidre oath this evening will be many Jewish politicians, lawyers, businessmen, journalists and public officials. It should be noted that any oaths they take to uphold and defend the Constitution or otherwise tell the truth are, as of tonight, "annulled, made void, and of no effect."

Isn't that nice?

Here is the actual text of the Kol Nidre oath.

Of all vows, bonds, promises, obligations and oaths wherewith we have avowed, sworn and bound ourselves from this Day of Atonement to the next Day of Atonement, may it come unto us for good; – of all these vows we hereby repent. They shall be absolved, released, annulled, made void, and of no effect; they shall not be binding, nor shall they have any power. Our vows shall not be vows; our bonds shall not be bonds; and our oaths shall not be oaths.

(High Holy Day Prayer Book, quoted in Judaism, ed. Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg [New York: George Braziller, 1962], p. 145.)