Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
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===When Should Selichot be Said?=== | ===When Should Selichot be Said?=== | ||
====The Earliest Time for Selichot==== | ====The Earliest Time for Selichot==== | ||
#Some communities, such as the Spanish-Portugese of London and Amsterdam, recited a condensed version of Selichot after Arvit before Kaddish Titkabal. This custom is frowned upon by Poskim like the [[Chida]], who argue that it is innappropriate according to Kabbalah for one to recite Selichot prior to Chatzot Laylah, as the first half of the night is connected to judgement, not mercy. Therefore, one who finds himself in a shul where [[Selichot]] are being recited before midnight should not recite the yud gimmel [[middot]] along with the congregation. Instead, he should remain silent or recite Tehillim.<ref>Shaare [[Teshuva]] 581:1 quoting Birkei Yosef, Orach Chaim 581:1.</ref> Some argue in favor of this custom, though.<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. See footnotes above for the full discussion.</ref> Nowadays, the strict view is accepted by the majority of authorities.<ref>The Magen Avraham 565:5 quotes the Arizal as saying that one should not say [[Selichot]], particularly the 13 [[middot]] of rachamim, prior to [[Chatzot]] at night. Similarly, [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1167&st=&pgnum=68 Rav Moshe Zachuto in Sht 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, 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.</ref> | |||
#Some communities, such as the Spanish-Portugese of London and Amsterdam, recited a condensed version of Selichot after Arvit before Kaddish Titkabal. This custom is frowned upon by Poskim like the [[Chida]], who argue that it is innappropriate according to Kabbalah for one to recite Selichot prior to Chatzot Laylah, as the first half of the night is connected to judgement, not mercy. Therefore, one who finds himself in a shul where [[Selichot]] are being recited before midnight should not recite the yud gimmel [[middot]] along with the congregation. Instead, he should remain silent or recite Tehillim.<ref>Shaare [[Teshuva]] 581:1 quoting Birkei Yosef, Orach Chaim 581:1.</ref> Some argue in favor of this custom, though.<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. See footnotes above for the full discussion.</ref> Nowadays, the strict view is accepted by the majority of authorities.<ref>The Magen Avraham 565:5 quotes the Arizal as saying that one should not say [[Selichot]], particularly the 13 [[middot]] of rachamim, prior to [[Chatzot]] at night. Similarly, [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=1167&st=&pgnum=68 Rav Moshe Zachuto in Sht 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, 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.</ref> | |||
#Those congregations which aren't able to rise early to say [[Selichot]], should nonetheless say [[Selichot]], either in the morning before [[Shacharit]] or even in the afternoon before [[Mincha]].<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 6-7), Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 10, Yechave Daat 1:46.</ref> | #Those congregations which aren't able to rise early to say [[Selichot]], should nonetheless say [[Selichot]], either in the morning before [[Shacharit]] or even in the afternoon before [[Mincha]].<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 6-7), Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 10, Yechave Daat 1:46.</ref> | ||
#Some say one may say [[Selichot]] according to when [[Chatzot]] is in [[Israel]]; however, the majority of halachic authorities disagree.<ref>Rav Ovadyah in Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 4) writes clearly that this isn't an acceptable leniency.</ref> | #Some say one may say [[Selichot]] according to when [[Chatzot]] is in [[Israel]]; however, the majority of halachic authorities disagree.<ref>Rav Ovadyah in Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 4) writes clearly that this isn't an acceptable leniency.</ref> | ||
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====The Latest Time for Selichot==== | ====The Latest Time for Selichot==== | ||
# Preferably, [[Selichot]] should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]],<ref>Mishna Brurah (Introduction to 581), Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:5 write that preferably, [[Selichot]] should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]]. </ref> but if one delayed one can say it after [[Olot HaShachar]].<ref>Ma'amar Mordechai 34:5.</ref> As above, however, it is permissible to recite [[Selichot]] earlier in the night as long as one is sure not to start before [[Chatzot]] (halachic midnight). | |||
#Preferably, [[Selichot]] should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]],<ref>Mishna Brurah (Introduction to 581), Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:5 write that preferably, [[Selichot]] should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]]. </ref> but if one delayed one can say it after [[Olot HaShachar]].<ref>Ma'amar Mordechai 34:5.</ref> As above, however, it is permissible to recite [[Selichot]] earlier in the night as long as one is sure not to start before [[Chatzot]] (halachic midnight). | |||
===Order of Selichot=== | ===Order of Selichot=== | ||
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#There is no problem with making a wedding during [[Elul]].<ref>Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:48, Sdei Chemed Maarechet Chatan Vikalla Siman 23 </ref> However, it is preferable that a ben yeshiva should try to schedule it before [[elul]] so as not to disrupt the torah learning during [[elul]] when yeshivas usually re-open. But if he couldn't, there is no reason to push it off to after the yamim noraim <ref>Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:48 </ref> | #There is no problem with making a wedding during [[Elul]].<ref>Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:48, Sdei Chemed Maarechet Chatan Vikalla Siman 23 </ref> However, it is preferable that a ben yeshiva should try to schedule it before [[elul]] so as not to disrupt the torah learning during [[elul]] when yeshivas usually re-open. But if he couldn't, there is no reason to push it off to after the yamim noraim <ref>Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:48 </ref> | ||
#The custom is that during [[elul]], one who writes a letter should write a blessing to the recipient that he should be inscribed in the book of life, such as "lishana tova tichatevu vitichatemu." The same is true of email's or the like.<ref>Mateh Efraim 581:9, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 26. [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=356&txtSearch=elul Rabbi Eli Mansour's Daily Halacha] adds that one should includes this in emails as well. </ref> | #The custom is that during [[elul]], one who writes a letter should write a blessing to the recipient that he should be inscribed in the book of life, such as "lishana tova tichatevu vitichatemu." The same is true of email's or the like.<ref>Mateh Efraim 581:9, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 26. [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=356&txtSearch=elul Rabbi Eli Mansour's Daily Halacha] adds that one should includes this in emails as well. </ref> | ||
#There is a custom to fast on Erev Rosh HaShanah<ref>Shulchan Aruch 582:2</ref> | #There is a custom to fast on Erev Rosh HaShanah<ref>Shulchan Aruch 582:2</ref>, though one should not complete this fast (until Tzeit HaKochavim) as that would cause him to enter Yom Tov famished.<ref>Mateh Efraim Siman 38</ref> Instead, one should fast until either Mincha Gedolah<ref>MaChazit HaShekel, Orach Chaim 581 S"K 10. Mishna Berurah 562 S"K 10 says one can rely on this opinion in the event one cannot fast until Plag Mincha. This is the widespread practice.</ref> or Plag HaMincha, daven mincha and eat afterwards<ref>Mateh Efraim, Siman 35. Mishna Berurah 562 S"K 10. In either case, one should not formally declare the fast at Mincha of the day before, as doing so without stipulating that he will not complete the fast will require him to do Hatarat Nedarim to finish it before Yom Tov begins.</ref>. Others suggest that one should only fast until Chatzot, eat and daven mincha afterwards. In either case, one should not say Anneinu and Lain the traditional laining for a Taanit Tzibur. | ||
==Related Pages== | ==Related Pages== | ||
