Chodesh Elul: Difference between revisions
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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> | #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 hold that in extenuating circumstances one can say selichot before [[Chatzot]].<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe 2:105) writes that although prior to [[Chatzot]] is not the ideal time, there is no prohibition to say [[Selichot]] at such a time, and as a Hora’at Sha’ah, one may be lenient. His proof is Shulchan Aruch O.C. 1:2 who rules that praying at the end of the first third of the night is considered a time of mercy. However, Rav Ovadyah Yosef (Chazon Ovadyah Yamim Nora’im p. 3-6) argues that there is a prohibition based on Kabbalah. He concludes that if the congregation can’t wake up to say [[Selichot]] at night, it may say them during the day before [[Shacharit]] or [[Mincha]]. He clearly spells out [[Chatzot]] is 12 halachic hours after midday which is 6 halachic hours after sunrise. [http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5757/nitzavim.html Rav Doniel Neustadt] says this shouldn't be relied upon on a consistent basis.</ref> | #Some hold that in extenuating circumstances one can say selichot before [[Chatzot]].<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe 2:105) writes that although prior to [[Chatzot]] is not the ideal time, there is no prohibition to say [[Selichot]] at such a time, and as a Hora’at Sha’ah, one may be lenient. His proof is Shulchan Aruch O.C. 1:2 who rules that praying at the end of the first third of the night is considered a time of mercy. However, Rav Ovadyah Yosef (Chazon Ovadyah Yamim Nora’im p. 3-6) argues that there is a prohibition based on Kabbalah. He concludes that if the congregation can’t wake up to say [[Selichot]] at night, it may say them during the day before [[Shacharit]] or [[Mincha]]. He clearly spells out [[Chatzot]] is 12 halachic hours after midday which is 6 halachic hours after sunrise. [http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5757/nitzavim.html Rav Doniel Neustadt] says this shouldn't be relied upon on a consistent basis.</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> | #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> | ||
#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> | #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> | ||
====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). | ||
