Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions

# The Sephardic minhag is to say Selichot from the day after [[Rosh Chodesh]] Elul. <Ref> S”A 581:1 writes that one should starting saying Selichot from [[Rosh Chodesh]] Elul. Mishna Brurah 581:1 explains that S”A means from [[Rosh Chodesh]] and not [[Rosh Chodesh]] itself. So writes the Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:1, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 9, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 1 as the Sephardic minhag. This is also quoted by the Arizal in Shaar Hakavanot 89:4, Ravyah 542, Machzor Vitri 323, Kol Bo 65. In Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 1 he explains that the reason for this is that tradition says that rosh chodesh elul is the day Moshe went up to Sinai the second time for forty days which were days of prayer and begging for mercy for the Jewish people, ending on Yom Kippur which which was the day of atonement. </ref>

# The minhag Ashekenaz is to start saying Selichot from the Sunday before Rosh HaShana unless Rosh HaShana falls out on Monday or Tuesday, in which case, Ashkenazim start from two Sundays before Rosh HaShana. <Ref> Rama 581:1 writes that the minhag Ashekenaz is to start saying Selichot from the Sunday before Rosh HaShana unless Rosh HaShana falls out on Monday or Tuesday, in which case, Ashkenazim start from two Sundays before Rosh HaShana. Mishna Brurah 581:6 explains that the reason that the preparation is no less than four days is because some had the custom to fast for ten days prior to [[Yom Kippur]], however, since one can’t fast on Rosh HaShana’s two days, [[Shabbat]] Shuvah, and Erev [[Yom Kippur]], one had to begin fasting four days prior to Rosh HaShana (see there for other reasons). </ref>

# Preferably, Selichot should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]]. <Ref> Mishna Brurah’s introduction to 581, Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:5 write that preferably, Selichot should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]]. </ref> However, if one delayed one can say it after [[Olot HaShachar]]. <Ref> Maamer Mordechai 34:5. </ref>However, it is permissible to say Selichot earlier in the night as long one one is sure not to start before Chatzot (halachic midnight). <Ref> Kaf HaChaim 581:1,2, and Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:4 hold that one should only say Selichot after Chatzot and if one had a minhag to say it earlier one should change the minhag. Chacham Ovadia Yosef in Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 2-3) as well as Yechave Daat 1:46 and his son in Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 9 agrees that it forbidden to say Selichot before Chatzot, which he clearly spells out is 12 halachic hours after midday which is 6 halachic hours after sunrise. Shaare Teshuvah 581:1 quotes the Birkei Yosef that if you find yourself in a minyan saying selichot before chatzot, that you shouldn't answer to the 13 middot.</ref>

# Ashkenazim start blowing Shofar from [[Rosh Chodesh]] Elul after Shacharit. <Ref> Rama 581:1 writes that one should begin blowing the Shofar from [[Rosh Chodesh]] Elul. Mishna Brurah 581:3 writes that some start on the first day of [[Rosh Chodesh]] and some start from the second day of Rosh Chodesh. </ref>