Laws of Rosh Hashana: Selichot

Selichot (סליחות)

The Selichot service [1] begins on the first day of the week following up to Rosh Hashana [2]. This year, this is will be from Saturday night, 8th September 2007 onwards. Selichot are said during the following days every morning until Yom Kippur.

• Women often have the Minhag[3] to join Selichot in synagogue on the Saturday night[4], but don't say Selichot on the following days.

The Selichot contain Hashem’s Thirteen Attributes of Mercy (י״ג מידות הרחמים), found in the Torah in Exodus 34:6-7. This verse is only allowed to be said with a Minyan[5], as it is considered a davar sh'be kedusha, a holy rendition, and must therefore not be said by an individual without the appropriate Torah melody.

The Talmud therefore asks, should Selichot only be said with a Minyan? And if so, if women only go to synagogue on the first day of Selichot, what do they do if they really want to say Selichot for the rest of the week? Can they say Selichot at home?

• Saying Selichot at home is a Minhag and therefore not compulsory for women. If they do say Selichot at home, they would be careful to delete the 13 Attributes of Mercy out of they prayers and jump to the next bit. Some Poskim[6] say that one can read the verse with the correct melody with the intention of reading a Torah verse, but one should make sure not to mention Hashem’s Name (י–ה–ו–ה).

The central essence of Selichot of course is not to merely recite the words printed in the Siddur, but to act according to what one is saying and to refine one’s character traits by doing so. Thus in the same way as Hashem bestows kindness upon us, we should bestow kindness upon the people surrounding us. In the same way as Hashem is forgiving, we should forgive other people. In the same way as Hashem is patient, we should be patient[7].

Notes

[1] Selichot are the prayers of repentance (Selicha means I appologise) which are said from the Month of Ellul until Yom Kippur.

[2] Magen Avraham

[3] Custom, according to your family’s or community’s tradition

[4] Shulchan Aruch

[5] Shulchan Aruch

[6] Halachic authorities

[7] Shlah HaKadosh