Summary of the period

Selichot are prayers of forgiveness and supplication for mercy, said at night or at dawn before Shacharit, in the days before Rosh Hashanah and during the Ten Days of Repentance. They include piyyutim, confession, and above all the thirteen attributes of mercy: “The Lord, the Lord, a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth” (Exodus 34:6-7).

Mitzvot and customs of the period

• Selichot all month: in Sephardic, Eastern and North African communities, Selichot are said from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Yom Kippur, at dawn, before Shacharit.
• Selichot in Ashkenazic communities: they begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah (at least four days before; otherwise a week earlier), at midnight.
• The thirteen attributes of mercy: said with a minyan, standing, in a special melody.
• Confession and “El Melech Yoshev”: a short confession, and looking within.
• Bakashot and piyyutim: in Moroccan, Syrian and other communities, special piyyutim are sung.
• Preparing for Rosh Hashanah: charity and forgiveness between people.

Origin in history

After the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses went up Mount Sinai and prayed. God revealed Himself in a cloud and proclaimed the thirteen attributes, as it says: “The Lord passed before him and proclaimed” (Exodus 34:6). According to the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 17b), God wrapped Himself like a prayer leader and showed Moses the order of prayer: “Whenever Israel sins, let them perform this order before Me, and I will forgive them.” From this the Selichot developed, and the enactment in Geonic times to say them before Rosh Hashanah.

The message for today

Selichot are a lesson in the power of change. God does not ask for perfection, but for sincerity and a will to return. When the request comes from the heart, it is heard: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him”. And forgiveness is not only before God, but before people. The great lesson of Selichot: before we ask for mercy, we do an act of mercy toward others.