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Echoes of Awe

Exploring the profound penitential prayers and poems recited during the High Holidays and fast days.

What is Selichot? ๐Ÿ“œ When to Recite โฐ

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What is Selichot?

Penitential Poetry

Selichot (Hebrew: ืกึฐืœึดื™ื—ื•ึนืช, romanized: sษ™liแธฅoแนฏ) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers. They are particularly significant during the period leading up to the High Holidays and are recited on various fast days. A central theme woven throughout these prayers is the invocation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, a core concept in Jewish theology concerning divine compassion and forgiveness.

Historical Roots

The practice of reciting Selichot dates back centuries, evolving within Jewish tradition as a means of spiritual preparation and introspection. The earliest forms of these prayers were often composed by liturgical poets (paytanim) and became integral to the High Holiday liturgy, reflecting a deep engagement with themes of repentance and divine judgment.

The Essence of Repentance

At their core, Selichot are an expression of teshuvah (repentance). They are designed to evoke a sense of awe, humility, and a sincere desire for divine favor. The prayers often recount historical moments of divine mercy and judgment, serving as a reminder of God's covenantal relationship with the Jewish people.

Timing and Observance

Leading Up to the High Holidays

In the Sephardic tradition, the recital of Selichot begins on the second day of the Hebrew month of Elul. For Ashkenazim, the timing varies: in years where Rosh Hashanah begins on a Thursday or Saturday, Selichot commence on the Saturday night preceding Rosh Hashanah. If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Monday or Tuesday, the observance starts on the Saturday night more than a week prior, ensuring at least four recitations.

Variations in Practice

The Italian rite traditionally begins Selichot on a Monday or Thursday shortly before Rosh Hashanah, with specific rules for when Rosh Hashanah falls on different days of the week. These variations highlight the diverse customs developed across different Jewish communities over time.

Nocturnal and Dawn Services

Traditionally, Selichot are recited between midnight and dawn. However, for convenience and communal participation, many communities now recite them during or immediately following the evening (Maariv) or morning (Shacharit) prayer services. The first night, often on a Saturday, is particularly notable for its communal attendance and elaborate musical renditions.

Categories of Selichot

Core Selichot

The primary category is Selichah (forgiveness), which forms the bulk of the service. These are often structured into two, three, or four-line stanzas. Another significant category is Pizmon (chorus), featuring a refrain that repeats after each stanza, adding a communal and resonant quality to the prayer.

Thematic Selichot

Specific themes are also central. The Akeidah (binding of Isaac) is recited, invoking this foundational narrative as a merit for answered prayers. Chatanu ('we have sinned') is a confessional prayer, often including martyrological elements, particularly poignant during the Ten Days of Repentance and Yom Kippur.

Petitions and Fast Days

Techinah (petition) is recited towards the end of the service, typically during Tachanun. Selichot are also recited on minor fast days, often integrated into the Shacharit service, with their content sometimes reflecting the specific reason for the fast.

Variations in Rites

Ashkenazic Traditions

Within the Ashkenazic world, numerous printed rites for Selichot emerged, particularly from the 15th century onwards. These include variations such as the Frankfurt, Alsace, Nuremberg, and Swiss/Swabian rites, reflecting regional liturgical developments.

Eastern vs. Western Ashkenazic

The Eastern Ashkenazic tradition is broadly represented by the Polish (Polin) and Lithuanian (Lita) rites, which differ in their specific piyyutim and their order. These distinctions predate the widespread adoption of Nusach Sefard and reflect historical geographic influences rather than ideological divides.

Sephardic and Italian Customs

Sephardic communities typically follow a consistent daily Selichot service, though some North African communities had variations. The Italian rite also possesses its unique customs, often beginning Selichot on specific weekdays relative to Rosh Hashanah.

Historical Context

Evolution of the Liturgy

Prior to the 15th century, the order of Selichot was not standardized, allowing cantors (hazzanim) flexibility in selecting piyyutim. Over time, regional customs solidified, leading to the distinct printed rites observed today. The table below illustrates the variations in specific Selichot recitations across different traditions, particularly concerning their appearance during the High Holidays and fast days.

The following table outlines the presence of specific Selichot across major Ashkenazic traditions. 'Erev RH' denotes the eve of Rosh Hashanah, 'TDR' refers to the Ten Days of Repentance, and 'FG' indicates the Fast of Gedaliah. Numbers correspond to page references in specific liturgical texts.

Title Frankfurt Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Hungary Lita Polin
Day No. Day No. Day No. Day No.
ืึธื‘ ืœึฐืจึทื—ึตื ื•ึฐืจึทื‘ ืกึฐืœื•ึนื—ึธื” ื—ื•ึนืœึทืœึฐืชึธึผื ื•ึผ 5 of TDR 104 Erev RH 37
ืึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืžึทืœึฐื›ึตึผื ื•ึผ 4 of TDR 93 Erev RH 37
ืึธื‘ึดื™ื ื•ึผ ืžึทืœึฐื›ึตึผื ื•ึผ 6 31 FG 48
ืึธื‘ึนืœึธื” ื ึทืคึฐืฉึดืื™ FG 61 FG 44 FG 48 FG 44
ืึธื“ื•ึนืŸ, ื‘ึดึผื™ื ึธื” ื”ึทื’ึดึผื™ื’ึตื ื•ึผ 1 6 2 of TDR 67
ืึธื“ื•ึนืŸ, ื‘ึดึผื™ื ึธื” ื”ึทื’ึดึผื™ื’ึตื ื•ึผ BHB1
ืึธื“ื•ึนืŸ, ื‘ึฐึผืคึธืงึฐื“ึฐึผืšึธ ืึฑื ื•ึนืฉื ืœึฐื‘ึธื‘ึดื™ Erev RH 38 Erev RH 29 Erev RH 34 Erev RH 29

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References

References

  1.  What Are Selichot?
  2.  A practice very strongly criticized by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein in Aruch Hashulchan OC 620:1.
  3.  Daniel Goldschmidt, Kinot, pages 7รขย€ย“8 of the introduction.
  4.  See Machzor Kol Bo.
  5.  Daniel Goldschimidt, Selichot according to the Lithuanian rite, Jerusalem 1970, page 6 of the introduction.
  6.  For the first edition Wilhermsdorf 1737.
  7.  Printed once in Sulzbach 1843.
  8.  First edition Prague 1605.
A full list of references for this article are available at the Selichot Wikipedia page

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