Selichot: Preparation for the Day of Power
Posted by Linda | Filed under Jewish Holidays
The more energy and effort you put into preparing for important times and events, the more you’ll get out of the experience. Yom Kippur, the Shabbat of Shabbats, is an incredibly powerful day in the Jewish year. On this day, we can wipe ourselves clean of all the every blemish and barrier we’ve caused through our misdeeds, so that our deepest essence and connection with G-d can be renewed. In order to prepare ourselves so that we get the most out of our Yom Kippur experience, we have the process of Selichot.
What and When:
The Selichot service consists of a series of prayers and supplications for forgiveness from G-d. Sephardim recite Slichot throughout the entire month of Elul, through Tishrei, up until Yom Kippur. This year, Sephardi Selichot starts on August 22/23. However, according to Ashkenazi custom, Selichot services only begin the Saturday night (after midnight) before Rosh Hashanah, should the holiday fall Wednesday or later in the week. However, if Rosh Hashanah falls early in the week, Selichot starts two Saturday nights before the holiday, since the service must be recited at least for four days before Rosh Hashanah. This year, Ashkenazi Selichot starts on September 12/13, 2009.
The Selichot service can be recited alone. However, several important parts of the service can only be recited with a minyan. The service is usually recited as a minyan anytime after midnight until morning, before morning prayers are recited. The service is never recited before halachic midnight because the first part of the night is considered to be a strong time of judgment.
A Look into the Service:
Selichot is a deeply moving service, full beautiful traditional songs, haunting verses, and powerful shofar blasts. One of the fundamental parts of the service is the repeated repetition of the the “Thirteen Attributes,” verses from the book of Exodus in the Torah that list the thirteen aspects of mercy and compassion that G-d embodies. The verse is as follow, “[1], Ha-shem [2], G-d [3], merciful [4], and gracious [5], long-suffering [6], abundant in goodness [7] and truth [8], keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation [9], forgiving iniquity [10] and transgression [11] and sin [12], who cleanses [13].”
Even a Little Bit of Preparation Makes a Big Difference:
Should you only are able to make it to one Selichot service before the High Holidays hit, I guarantee that that experience (provided you are at a good minyan) will be sure to enliven your soul and prepare you for a far more powerful Yom Kippur. Two of the most important nights of Selichot are the first night of Ashkenazi Selichot service, and the night before Yom Kippur.
Tap into the wonderful gift of Selichot!
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