Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions

===Who is Obligated in Selichot===

====Women====

# Women are not obligated to recite Selichot, as it is only a [[Minhag]]. If they choose to, they must recite Birkot HaTorah first (especially if they are Sephardi).<ref>Halichot Beitah 7:2, Yalkut Yosef (Otzar Dinim leIshah ulaBat 7:6), Mekadesh Yisrael (Yamim Noraim, Selichot 59), Nitei Gavriel (Hilchot Rosh HaShana 10:16*), Piskei Shlomo (vol. 4 page 137). See Rav Avraham Yosef's opening comments [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL7pjgYQhLA here].</ref>

# In some European communities, it was common for women to attend Selichot,<ref>See Magen Avraham 88:3</ref> and, nowadays, some Ashkenazi women try to attend Selichot in the synagogue on the first night or Erev [[Rosh HaShana]] and Erev [[Yom Kippur]].<ref>Nitei Gavriel (Hilchot Rosh HaShana 10:16*), Mekadesh Yisrael (Yamim Noraim, Selichot 59), [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=53004&st=&pgnum=63 Ratz KaTzvi (BeMoadei HaShana vol. 1 1:3:7 page ח)]. See Aderet Tiferet (vol. 7 page 115) about Sephardi ladies in his community.</ref>

====Children====

#One should try to initiate his sons in the [[Minhag]] of reciting Selichot but without causing them distress. Since these are auspicious days for prayer, one should at least train them to recite the prayers themselves, if not early in the morning/late at night. Some say Ashkenazim should ensure to bring them on the first night in any case.<ref>Mekadesh Yisrael (Yamim Noraim, Selichot 60)</ref>

===When Should Selichot be Said?===

* Similarly, [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1167&st=&pgnum=68 Rav Moshe Zachuto in Shu"t Ramaz 30] writes that it is important to only say selichot after chatzot. The Birkei Yosef 581:1, Mishna Brurah 565:12, Kaf HaChaim Orach Chaim 581:1,2, Kaf Hachaim Palacci 16:13, Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daat 1:46; Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 2-3); Yalkut Yosef, Moadim page 9), and Ma'amar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:4 agree.<br>

While Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 6-7) cites some opinions that one may say Selichot according to when Chatzot is in Israel, he concludes clearly that this is not an acceptable leniency </ref> However, some communities, such as the Spanish-Portuguese of London and Amsterdam, recited a condensed version of Selichot after Arvit before Kaddish Titkabal and some argue in favor of this custom<ref>See Keter Shem Tov vol. 5 page 13 who notes how the custom has no source in early Poskim and seems to just be a means of keeping the custom of Selichot alive for those whose inability to attend early in the morning will result in the obliteration of the custom. At the same time, Rav Gaguine notes, the communities in London and Amsterdam have no hand in Kabbalah, which is the source of the insistence not to recite Selichot before chatzot, in the first place. Therefore, there is no reason for them to change their practice due to other Poskim's Kabbalistic concerns. In those locales, it is anyway too cold to get up early in the morning, unlike Spain, so they also do Selichot at 7:00AM. Magen Avot (Orach Chaim fn. 437) refers to Darchei David who finds additional room for leniency to uphold the Spanish-Portuguese custom to do Selichot at night after Arvit.</ref>  

* [http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5757/nitzavim.html Rav Doniel Neustadt] says this shouldn't be relied upon on a consistent basis.  

* see also [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/933010/rabbi-isaac-rice/the-best-time-for-selichos-the-worst-time-for-selichos/ Rabbi Isaac Rice]</ref>

# On Erev Rosh HaShana one should make an extra effort to get up early to say Selichot before [[Olot HaShachar]].<ref>Ma'amar Mordechai 34:5 </ref>

====The Latest Time for Selichot====

===Order of Selichot===

# According to most poskim, one must say [[Brachot HaTorah]] before saying [[Selichot]] because there are a number of pesukim in [[Selichot]].<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 5) and [http://halachayomit.co.il/en/default.aspx?HalachaID=5095 Halachayomit]<br>

Shulchan Aruch 46:9 writes that birkot hatorah should be said before reciting any pesukim, even as a form of prayer and not learning. He adds that some say that it would not be necessary to say birkot hatorah if you are just reciting the pesukim as a form of prayer. He concludes that it is proper to be strict. The Rama writes that the common practice is to be lenient like the Maharil 150:9 that if you are only reciting the pesukim as a prayer, you need not recite birkot hatorah. The Rambam in Shu"t Peor Hador 104 holds that you must and therefore, Chacham Ovadia (Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim pg. 5) writes that you should. Birkei Yosef 46:14 and Mishna Brurah 46:27 agree. <br>

Aruch Hashulchan 46:14 says this isn't necessary based on the Rama The opinion of the Rama is based on the Maharil 150:9. Nitai Gavriel (Rosh Hashana ch. 10, fnt. 1) advises saying birchos hatorah before selichos unless one is in a rush in which case one can rely on those who say you don’t need to say it before selichos. <br>

See [[Birchot_HaTorah#What_Type_of_Learning_Requires_Birchot_HaTorah.3F|What Type of Learning Requires Birchot HaTorah]]</ref>

# The [[Selichot]] should be said with proper intent (Kavanah), slowly, and with humility, especially when one is reciting the Yud Gimmel [[Middot]] HaRachamim.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 20) </ref>

# When saying the Yud Gimmel [[Middot]] HaRachamim one shouldn't count the [[Middot]] on one's fingers because there is a dispute as to which [[Middot]] are counted as the 13.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, p. 33), Yalkut Yosef [[tefilla]] volume 2 page 399. </ref>

===Selichot Without a Minyan===

===Shliach Tzibbur for Selichot===

===Wearing [[Tallit]] for Selichot===

===Selichot With a Minyan that Uses a Different Nusach===

Rav Shalom Meshash (Shemesh uMagen vol. 4 Orach Chaim 72:1) also rules that one must recite the Nusach of his community, even if he, for example, is a Sephardi student in an Ashkenazi yeshiva. Rav Mordechai Lebhar (Magen Avot, Orach Chaim 581:1) questions why this is so, since it's not part of the official seder hatefillah and is just Tefillot and Bakashot to Hashem. As long as it increases one's Kavanna, what could be wrong, he asks. Rav Yaakov Ariel (Halacha Beyamenu page 310, "[https://www.toraland.org.il/%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92-%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91/%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94-%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95/%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%A8-%D7%93-%D7%97%D7%91%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%94/%D7%94%D7%94%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%93%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%AA/ ההלכה והציונות הדתית דיבור המתחיל שמרנות עדתית]") writes similarly that in an education institution it's an opportunity to introduce and familiarize the students with each other's traditions. Things like Selichot and Zemirot, which are not institutions of the Anshei Kenesset HaGedolah, should not fall behind the limits of Ashkenazi and Sepharadi traditions barring each community from participating in each other's services. Although, if joining the Sefaradim would entail separating oneself from the congregation, Rav Ariel discourages it in [https://www.toraland.org.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%92%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%A0%D7%94/%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%90%D7%A9%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%96%D7%99-%D7%91%D7%A1%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%97%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D/ a different Teshuvah].

</ref>

#Ashkenazim say LeDavid Hashem Ori after [[Mariv]], however, some say it after [[mincha]].<ref>Mateh Efraim 551:6 writes that LeDavid Hashem Ori in the evening should be said after [[Mincha]]. This is also the opinion of Mishna Brurah 581:2. However, Elef HaMagen 581:10 holds that LeDavid Hashem Ori should be said after [[Mariv]]. Shalmei Moed (pg 21) in name of Rav Shlomo Zalman writes that one should follow the minhag of the Tzibbur one is praying with. Shalmei Moed (pg 21) says that the minhag Ashkenaz is to say LeDavid Hashem Ori after [[Mariv]] (such is how the Artscroll Siddur has it). </ref>

#For Sephardim it’s also proper to say LeDavid Hashem Ori after [[Shacharit]], especially since some Sephardim recite it all year long.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah pg 24 writes that even for sephardim it’s proper to say LeDavid Hashem after [[Shacharit]]. </ref>

#[[Moroccans]] also recite LeDavid at Shacharit and Arvit from Rosh Chodesh Elul until [[Hoshana Rabba]] including Shabbatot. The custom is to recite it before Kaveh at Shacharit, but it has become common to postpone until after Aleinu. On Shabbat, it is supposed to be recited between Kaveh and Ribbi Chananya, but it is often similarly postponed until after Aleinu. Many have the custom to recite it all year long prior to Arvit.<ref>Magen Avot (Orach Chaim 581:1)</ref>

==Blowing Shofar==

===Who Has The Custom to Blow===

===Number of Blows===

# The common custom is to blow ''tashrat'', tekiya shevarim teruah and tekiya, one time. Some say that one should do tarat, tashat, and tashrat.<reF>Piskei Teshuvot 581:3 cites the Bach 592 who advocated for tarat, tashat, and tashrat but noted that the minhag was just to do tashrat.</ref>

===When===

===Minyan for Blowing Shofar===

===Standing for Shofar Blowing During Elul===

==Hatarat Nedarim==

==Fasting on Erev [[Rosh HaShana]]==

{{Fasting_on_Erev_Rosh_Hashana}}

==Other practices==

==Related Pages==