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Selichot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Selichot (Heb. סליחות) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holy Days, and on Fast Days. The Thirteen Attributes of God are a central theme throughout the prayers.
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In the Sephardic tradition, Selichot begins during the series of Selichot services of the High Holidays on the second day of the Hebrew month of Elul. in the Ashkenazic Tradition, it begins on the Saturday Night before Rosh Hashanah (although if Rosh Hashanah is Monday/Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday, they start the Saturday before this, so there are at least 4 nights Selichot). In any event, Selichot is usually recited between midnight and dawn, though many recite it at night after the Maariv service or in the morning before the Shacharit service due to the convenience of synagogue attendance at these times. Selichot refers to both the service itself as well as to each of the poetic piyyutim that compose the service. Sephardic Selichot services are identical each day. In the Ashkenazic tradition, different texts are recited on the different days. Though the length varies from day to day, the format remains practically constant. The service begins with the recitation of Psalm 145, followed by the Half Kaddish.
Arguably the most famous, most important, and certainly most popular night of Selichot is the first night, which in the Ashkenazic Tradition falls on the Saturday Night before Rosh Hashanah (or two Saturday nights before Rosh Hashanah if Rosh Hashanah falls early in the week). The Chazan wears a kittel and sings elaborate melodies. It is not unusual for a choir to participate in this first night's service. This night also has more selichot than any other night prior to the eve of Rosh Hashanah. The other nights are more sparsely attended and those services are often led by a layperson, rather than a trained musician.
Categories of selichot in the Ashkenazic tradition may include:
- Selicha (סליחה) -- Hebrew for "forgiveness", this is the default selicha and comprises the vast majority of the selichot service.
- Pizmon (פזמון) -- Hebrew for "chorus", these central selichot contain a chorus which is repeated after each stanza.
- Akeidah (עקדה) -- Hebrew for "binding", a word which specifically refers to the Binding of Isaac'; It is a selichah which contains the theme of the Binding as a merit for God answering our prayers. It begins to appear on the eve of Rosh Hashannah and is placed immediately before the Pizmon
- Chatanu (חטאנו) -- Hebrew for "we have sinned", Starting on the evening before Rosh Hashannah through Yom Kippur, this selicha is located after the final recitation of the Thirteen Attributes and before the Vidui confession. It contains as its refrain "חטאנו צורנו סלח לנו יוצרנו", "we have sinned, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator". Perhaps the most famous Chatanu Selicha is the Eleh Ezkera Martyrology recited during Musaf on Yom Kippur, though the recitation of the aforementioned refrain is not always followed in this particular Chatanu.
- Tachinah (תחנה) -- Hebrew for "petition", this begins to appear on the eve of Rosh Hashanah in the Tachanun section at the very end of the selichot service
On minor fast days (besides the Fast of Gedaliah whose selichot is preempted by the selichot of the High Holidays) some communities recite selichot. These selichot are recited at the conclusion of the Shacharit Amidah and each contain poetry related to the specific fast day.
Western Ashkenazic communities insert the recitation of the selichot of minor fast days in the middle of the blessing for forgiveness (סלח לנו כי חטאנו) of the repetition of the Schacharit Amindah.
Selichot are not recited on the major fast day of Tisha B'Av. In fact not even the penitential prayers of Tachanun or Avinu Malkeinu are recited due to the complete mourning on the day as well as to the tradition that the gates of prayer are closed for the duration of the day[1].
- ^ Simmons, Rabbi Shraga. Tears on Tisha B'Av. Aish.com. August 6, 2000. Accessed July 26, 2007.
- Selichot 2007 - Beautiful Tunes from the Sephardic Tradition held in Beverly Hills
- Selichot (Supplication) Prayers in PDF format (Hebrew) According to the customs of Chabad
- Jewish Virtual Library article on Selichot