Ask The Rabbi: What Are The Customs Of S’lichot? | Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Beit Midrash

Beit Midrash

Shabbat and Holidays
The High Holidays
The Month of Elul

קטגוריה משנית

Parashat Hashavua Series'Library Piskei Din (Hebrew)Test Yourself

There Are Different Customs For Saying S'lichot Prayers, A Minhag Initiated By King David As A Way Of Confessing Our Sins Prior To Asking Hashem For Forgiveness. Sefardim Began To Say S’lichot Each Morning In Elul, Just As The Shofar Is Sounded Each Day. Ashkenazim Begin Saying S'lichot On The Saturday Night Before Rosh Hashana (That Is, This Motzei Shabbat) So Long As There Are At Least 4 Days Before The Chag (Just As A Korban Was Prepared 4 Days Before Its Offering, So Do We Prepare Ourselves). Why Davka Begin On A Motzei Shabbat? One Idea: Usually, We Read Parshat Nitzavim On The Shabbat Before S'lichot. The Opening Words Of This Parsha, "Atem Nitzavim Hayom" Are Equal In Gematria To, "La'amod L'slichot - Rise To Say Slichot." Selichot May Be Recited Either In The Morning Or The Evening, & Are Generally Said Either Very Early Or Very Late In Order To Demonstrate Our Urgency In Seeking G-d's Mercy & Our Willingness To Forego Sleep In Order To Petition The Almighty.

The Month of Elul