Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions

The month of Elul is a month in which everyone has the opportunity to prepare himself for the day of Judgement and the new year. There are various practices that we do during this month in order to further that goal.

#The Sephardic minhag is to say [[Selichot]] from the day after [[Rosh Chodesh]] [[Elul]].<ref>The Rosh ([[Rosh Hashana]] 4:14) writes that a number of Geonim had the minhag of saying [[Selichot]] during the [[Aseret Yemei Teshuva]], while other places said them from [[Rosh Chodesh]] [[Elul]] because that is when Moshe was on Har Sinai receiving the second Luchot. Tur 581 notes that there are three different traditions and adds that the Ashkenaz tradition is to begin on the Saturday Night prior to Rosh Hashanah when Rosh HaShanah begins on Thursday or [[Shabbat]]. If it begins on Monday or Tuesday, [[Selichot]] begin on the Sunday prior to that. While the Rambam ([[Teshuva]] 3:4) follows the minhag of the Geonim, S”A 581:1 writes that the Sephardic minhag is to say [[Selichot]] from [[Rosh Chodesh]] [[Elul]]. Mishna Brurah 581:1 explains that S”A means from [[Rosh Chodesh]] and not [[Rosh Chodesh]] itself. Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:1, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 9, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 1 agree that such is the Sephardic minhag. This is also quoted by the Arizal in Shaar Hakavanot 89:4, Ravyah 542, Machzor Vitri 323, Kol Bo 65. Meiri Chibur Hateshuva Page 207 says this is what should be done, and adds that [[selichot]] is a partial fulfillment of learning the laws of each [[holidays]] 30 days prior. In Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 1 and Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 9 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. see also sefer hamanhig Hilchot [[Rosh Hashana]] 1:25 </ref>

#There are no [[Selichot]] on [[Shabbat]].<ref>Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:2 writes that there are no [[Selichot]] on [[Shabbat]]. </ref>

#Preferably, [[Selichot]] should be said at the end of the night before [[Olot HaShachar]].<ref>Mishna Brurah (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 as one is sure not to start before [[Chatzot]] (halachic midnight).<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, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 9, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 2 and Mishna Brurah 565:12 agree.</ref>  

#Although one shouldn't say the Yud Gimmel [[Middot]] before [[chatzot]] of the night, one is permitted to listen to them via a recording in order to practice the words and the tunes.<ref>Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 20. See also page 21 where he writes that if one hears the 13 [[middot]] or [[kaddish]] via a live feed, he should answer, but if it isn't live then he doesn't answer. </ref>

# According to Sephardim, one must say [[Brachot HaTorah]] before saying [[Selichot]] because there are a number of pesukim in [[Selichot]].<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 5) based on Shulchan Aruch 46:9 and Rambam in Sh"t Peor Hador 104, Birkei Yosef 46:14, Mishna Brurah 46:27. Aruch Hashulchan 46:14 says this isn't necessary based on the Rama in 46:9 that allows saying pesukim that are said as supplication to be said without reciting birkot hatorah first. 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. See [[https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Birchot_HaTorah#What_Type_of_Learning_Requires_Birchot_HaTorah.3F]]</ref>

#Here's the [http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/sidurim/mizrah/slihot/slihot.htm text of Sephardi Selichot on daat.ac.il] and [https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%A1%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%97%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%99_%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%91%D7%94 text of Ashkenazic Selichot on wikisource.org].

#A Torah scholar (Talmid Chacham) who isn't able to wake up for [[Selichot]] because he is learning in the early hours of the morning and by going to [[Selichot]] it will ruin his schedule he should try to go to [[Selichot]] during the Aseret Yamei [[Teshuva]] (Ten days of [[Repentance]]) and some days of [[Elul]]. However, if he is up passed [[Chatzot]] it's preferable to say some paragraphs of [[Selichot]] and [[Tikkun Chatzot]] (which takes precedence over [[Selichot]]).<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 8-10), Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 11, Sh"t Yechave Daat 3:44. (see also Sh"t Yabia Omer OC 2:28:8-9, Sh"t Yabia Omer YD 4:19, for a similar discussion) Sefer [[Seder]] Hayom page 57 warns that a person shouldn't neglect to recite [[selichot]] with the argument that his time is better spent learning rather than praying. Mateh Ephraim 581:11 also stresses a similar idea. The Rama in Darkei Moshe 581:2 quotes the Haghot Ashri saying that any talmid chacham should make sure to recite [[selichot]] </ref>

#If one doesn't have sufficient time to say all of [[Selichot]] because the time for [[Tefillah]] has arrived, one should skip "Im Afes Rovah Haken", "Bezichrei Al Mishkavi", "Lemitvadeh Chatatav", and "Aylecha Hashem Naasati Aynay", according to the need.<ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, p. 33)</ref>

#If one is praying without a minyan, he should not say the thirteen attributes as a prayer, <ref>Rashba Teshuva 1:211 writes that the 13 middot of Rachamim can't be said without a minyan since they are a dvar shebekedusha. This is codified by the Shulchan Aruch O.C. 565:5, Mishna Brurah 581:4, and Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim, pg 11). </ref> but one can read the Yud Gimmel middot (13 attributes) with the cantillation as if he is simply reading the torah.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 565:5, Yechave Daat 1:47, Yalkut Yosef [[Tefilla]] 2: page 131, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim 27, [[http://halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDefault.asp?HalachaID=2135 Halacha Yomit]], Sh"t Rashba 1:211, Chida in Machazik Beracha 131:6, Ben Ish Chai Parashat Ki Tisa: Halacha 9. Iggerot Moshe YD 3:21 allows them to be recited without a [[minyan]] as long you use any melody other than the one used for [[prayer]], and doesn't require that it be the same cantilations as the torah. </ref>

#If one hears the Yud Gimmel [[Middot]] or [[Kaddish]] in a live via radio or video he can answer. If it is recorded, he cannot answer.<ref>Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 21 </ref>

#Any Jew is fit for being a Shliach Tzibbur as long as the congregation accepts him.<ref>Rama 581:1 </ref>

#The minhag has become to permit paying the shaliach tzibbur and the baal tokea for the yamim noraim since it is for a mitzvah.<ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 19, Chazon Ovadia Yamim Noraim page 39 </ref>

#The Shliach Tzibbur should wear a [[Tallit]] during [[Selichot]]. However, he shouldn’t make a Bracha if he puts it on at night before [[Olot HaShachar]] and to remove himself from controversy he should borrow a [[Tallit]] from a friend (and not use a public [[Tallit]]) and have intent that one is not acquiring the [[Tallit]] it but only using for respect of the congregation.<ref>Maharil Hilchot Yamim Noraim 4 says there is a custom that the shliach tzibbur should wear a Tallit even at night for [[selichot]] since the gemara in rosh hashana 17 says that Hashem wrapped himself in [[tzitzit]] like a shliach tzibbur to recite the yud gimmel [[middot]]. Mishna Brurah 581:6 writes that the Levush says that the Shliach Tzibbur should wear a [[Tallit]] during [[Selichot]] but not make a Bracha since there’s a dispute if one can fulfill [[Tzitzit]] at night. However, the Taz 581:2 argues that one shouldn’t enter himself into a dispute (whether to make a Bracha) and so one should rather borrow a [[Tallit]] from a friend and have Kavana not to acquire it but to use it for respect. see Mikraei Kodesh by Rav Tzvi [[Pesach]] Frank Yamim Noraim [[Siman 1]] for the discussion of why  the Taz suggests borrowing a friend's Tallit rather than the shuls. </ref>