Selichot Prayers of Forgiveness

On the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah, Ashkenazic Jews (Jews from Eastern Europe) begin to recite selichot, prayers of forgiveness in preparation for the Ten Days of Repentance. Sephardic Jews (Jews from Spain, Portugal and North Africa) customarily begin reciting selichot on the 2nd day of Elul and continue to do so until Yom Kippur.

In many Ashkenazi communities, the first night of selichot is the most popular and well attended. Selichot is said as close to midnight as possible because it is felt that midnight is a particularly propitious time. Owing to the fact that the selichot service begins so late, many communities will have classes on themes related to the High Holidays or other events for several hours prior to selichot. They might explore themes such as teshuvah (repentance/return) the content of the Machzor (High Holiday prayer book) or the importance of self-introspection, heshbon nefesh which we undergo as a people as well as individuals at this time of year. These classes can serve as another means of preparing oneself spiritually for the High Holidays.

Selichot is highly participatory and intensely spiritual, as we stand with our community and really begin to get ourselves into the proper emotional, physical and spiritual framework for the High Holidays just ahead. Selichot include many of the prayers and piyyutim, liturgical poems that we say on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Thirteen Attributes of G-d are said throughout the service as is the Ashamnu, the confession which we say at every service on Yom Kippur. Mi She’anah, a particularly beautiful piyyut is also sung. In this piyyut, we ask that just as G-d answered our Biblical ancestors, so, too, may G-d answer us.

Although the first night of selichot is the best attended, selichot are recited daily in many communities through Yom Kippur. In the Ashkenazi liturgical rite, the text of the selichot changes depending upon the day of the week while Sephardim say an identical version of selichot daily. Selichot can be recited just before Shacharit, the morning service or, as is most often done on the first night, said at midnight. Selichot can also be recited after Maariv, the evening service but this is less common.

Selichot are also recited on fast days which include the Fast of Esther which is usually the day before Purim, the 17th of Tammuz and the 10th of Tevet. On Tisha B’Av or the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, selichot are not said because kinot or liturgical dirges are said.