aswath.com Information about Selichot
Selichot (Hebrew: סליחות‎) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. The Thirteen Attributes of God are a central theme throughout the prayers. 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. (However, if Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday/Tuesday or Tuesday/Wednesday, Selichot are said beginning the Saturday night prior to ensure that there are at least four nights of Selichot). 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 constant. The service begins with the recitation of Psalms 145, followed by the Half-Kaddish. Selichot are usually recited between midnight and dawn. Some 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. Arguably the most important and certainly most popular night of Selichot in the Ashkenazi tradition is the first night, when women and girls as well as men and boys attend the late-night service on Saturday night. The hazzan wears a kittel and sings elaborate melodies. In Conservative congregations, 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 Rosh Hashanah eve. 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: On minor fast days (besides the Fast of Gedaliah, whose Selichot is preempted by the Selichot of the High Holidays), some communities recite Selichot at the conclusion of the Shacharit Amidah. 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) in the repetition of the Shacharit Amidah. Selichot are not recited on the major fast day of Tisha B'Av. Neither are the penitential prayers of Tachanun and Avinu Malkeinu, due to the complete mourning on that day as well as the tradition that the gates of prayer are closed for the duration of the day[1].

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