Light is sown¹ for the righteous

footnotes: ¹ Light is sown for the righteous in this world, but the harvest of that light awaits the future world.—RadakOthers say that while the light may sometimes be hidden like the seed in the earth, it is sure to spring forth.

and for the upright in heart—joy²

footnotes: ² Tehillim 97:11.

With the consent of the Almighty,

and consent of this congretation,

in a convocation of the heavenly court,

and a convocation of the lower court,³

footnotes: ³ The court of man.

we hereby grant permission

to pray with transgressors.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ Anyone who has transgressed either a law of the Torah or Rabbinic law is called an “Avaryan” (transgressor) and is subject to excommunication from the community and hence cannot be included in any prayer or service which requires a quorum. (See Periesha to Tur Shulchan Aruch section 619, also Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 324). Special permission is thus required in order to include them in our prayers. The above declaration is based on a talmudic statement: “Rabbi Shimon Chasidah says: A public fast wherein Jewish transgressors do not participate is not a [true] fast.” This is deduced from the fact that though the odor of galbanum is unpleasant, Scripture included it among the fragrant spices of the incense-offering.—Maseches Kerisos 6bAccording to Bach (Ibid.) permission granted is not a blanket dispensation but is predicated on the assumption that these transgressors will repent. This is implied in the words: עַל דַעַת הַמָקוֹם, with the consent of Hashem.

All vows,⁵

footnotes: ⁵ The prototypical vow is as follows: “This item shall be forbidden to me just as a sacrifice” (See Ritva, Ran Nedarim 2a).

and things we have made forbidden on ourselves,

and oaths,⁶

footnotes: ⁶ An oath is a declaration made by someone to do, or not to do something. The difference between a vow and an oath is that a vow makes an object forbidden whereas an oath makes some action forbidden (or obligatory) on the part of the person who makes the oath.

and items we have consecrated to the Temple,⁷

footnotes: ⁷ During the times Holy Temple, people could dedicate anything to the Temple. It henceforth became forbidden to anyone, and allowed to be used only for the Temple.

and vows issued with the expression “konum,”⁸

footnotes: ⁸ The prototypical expression above (in note 5) ends with “as a sacrifice” which in Hebrew is “as a korban.” In place of the word “korban” the word “konam” was frequently used. There is a dispute in Maseches Nedarim as to the origin of the word.

and vows which are abbreviated,⁹

footnotes: ⁹ This means that the entire prototypical expression as given in note 5 is not used.

and vows issued with the expression “kanos,”¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ See note 7 above. In this case the word “korban” is replaced with “kanos.”

that we have vowed,

and sworn,

and dedicated,¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ This refers to things dedicated to the Holy Temple.

and made forbidden upon ourselves;

from this Yom Kippur

until next Yom Kippur—

may it come to us at a good time—

We regret having made them;

may they all be permitted,¹²

footnotes: ¹² Only vows or oaths made by an individual concerning himself can be nullified, but not those made by others even though they effect him. He also cannot nullify oaths that he took at the behest of a Beth Din or by a second party.—Tur 619

forgiven, eradicted

and nullified,

and may they not be valid

or exist any longer.

Our vows shall no longer be vows,

and our prohibitions

shall no longer be prohibited,

and our oaths are no longer oaths.

Forgive the entire congregation

of the Children of Yisrael

and the stranger amongst them;

for the entire people sin unintentionally.

Please pardon the sins of this nation

in accordance with the greatness

of Your lovingkindness;

and as You forgave this people

from when it left Mitzrayim until now.

And there it is said:

“And Adonoy said

I have pardoned [them] as you have asked”

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

our God, King of the Universe

Who has kept us alive and sustained us

and brought us to this time.