625: Selichot Stories and Song from the Jewish Tradition
Rabbi David Schneyer is the spiritualleader of Am Kolel andKehila Chadasha, two trans-denomination Jewish communities based in the Washington, DCarea. A musician and cantor, David also directs the AmKolel Sanctuary and Renewal Center, an ecumenical retreat centernearPoolesville, MD. A member of Rabbis for Human Rights and the MontgomeryCountryside Alliance, he is devoted to social and environmental justice. Selichot are special prayersfor forgiveness, properly pronounced "s'lee-KHOHT," but oftenpronounced "SLI-khus" in Ashkenazi communities. They are usually saidon fast days, and also said during the period preceding Yom Kippur. In theSephardic tradition, Selichot are said beginning with the month of Elul,through Yom Kippur to help worshipers direct their hearts and minds to theprocess of teshuvah, repentance. At the Selichot service, worshipers begin toexamine their deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from God, andpromising to improve their behavior in the New Year. In the Ashkenazictradition, Selichot are begun at a time such that there will be ten dailyopportunities for their recitation before and including Yom Kippur. This isbased on the custom, once prevalent, that Jews would fast for ten days (eatingat night) before and including Yom Kippur. In general, the proper time to saySelichot are at the end of the night, just before the morning, since this timeis considered, according to Jewish Mysticism, a specially favorable time, interms of the presence and closeness of God.
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