09 Sep THE TIME FOR SELICHOS

We all are familiar
with the custom of
reciting Selichos
from before Rosh
Hashanah until Erev
Yom Kippur (and
some communities
even from Rosh

Chodesh Elul). The question arises each
year when the Selichos period is upon us as
to when Selichos should be recited. At this
time, we try to fit the Selichos into our busy
schedules.
Many places have a practice to say Selichos
at 10:00 p.m., some at 1:00 a.m., and others

before Shacharis in the morning.
When is the opportune time
to recite Selichos?Why do the
Ashkenazim start after chatzos
on Motza’ei Shabbos?
The Best Time
The Rambam says that during
the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah we
get up “at night” and say words
of tachanunim. The Shulchan
Aruch4 mentions as well
that we awake in “ashmores
haboker” to say Selichos,
which is understood to mean
night. Many authorities quote
this and rule that one should
say Selichos at night before
alos hashachar.
The reason for saying it at night is because
that time is a time of ratzon.
Chatzos
There are those who have the custom to recite
Selichos at chatzos, since that is also a time
of ratzon.
Before Chatzos
There are those who have a minyan for
Selichos and Yud-Gimmel Middos before
chatzos; however, this practice is frowned
upon by the poskim. In fact, Harav Yaakov
Kamenetsky zt”1 mentions that he is not sure
what the heter is for it.
Although we do recite Selichos on Yom
Kippur night before chatzos, this should not
serve as any proof that doing so is permitted,
since Yom Kippur is a day of mercy.
Some people might be tempted to daven at
the 10:00 p.m. minyan in order to get up to
go to work in the morning without waking
up earlier to say Selichos. In addition, some
may be scared to go out early in the morning
and would rather do it at night. Furthermore,
people are tired from working all day, and do
not want to sacrifice their sleep.
Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l dealt with this
question in Igros Moshe. He maintains that
since the Gemara never actually forbids saying
Selichos before chatzos, we cannot prohibit
this practice. If the option is to recite Selichos
before chatzos or not to recite them at all in
the morning, one should recite them at night
with the early minyan. However, he adds that
this should not be done on a regular basis, and
cannot be done year after year. Some suggest
that the source for saying Selichos before
chatzos, usually about 10:00 p.m., is because
in Eretz Yisrael it is after chatzos. Therefore,
it is permitted even though it is before chatzos
in other parts of the world.
One who wishes may recite Selichos at
Minchah (although this practice is not
common), since we recite vidui (nusach
Sephard) during Minchah.
Those who say Selichos before chatzos do
not recite the Yud-Gimmel Middos, Ashrei,

Kaddish after Ashrei, and the Lecha Hashem…
Motza’ei Shabbos
Ashkenazim begin reciting Selichos on
Motza’ei Shabbos after chatzos. On this day,
they are particular to recite Selichos at night,
since we say in the portion of the Selichos,
“B’motza’ei yom menuchah,” which is
referring to Shabbos. Therefore, it cannot be
said on Sunday.
Some hold that one should change to
weekday clothing before reciting Selichos on
Motza’ei Shabbos.
We all need as much mercy as possible during
these days, and we should make sure to recite
Selichos in the most opportune time frame,
and try not to rely on leniencies.
Selichos at Night or Early Morning
Whether one is saying Selichos at night or
early in the morning, he may say it loud even
if he may be a nuisance to some neighbors.
However, one should still try to ensure that
the windows are closed to avoid disturbing
the neighbors.
Sunrise and Selichos
We have mentioned above that the opportune
time for Selichos is at alos hashachar. Even
after sunrise, which is the opportune time for
Shacharis, one should still recite Selichos
first. This is true despite the concept that
whatever is more common comes first. It
is possible that since reciting Selichos is a
custom, it takes precedence over davening.
Why Selichos before Davening
On fast days, we say Selichos during davening.
Why do we say them before davening during
Elul?
It is possible that we need the extra merits, so
we say Selichos earlier to add to our merits.
On fast days, the Selichos are added as an
extra aspect to tefillah, so we say them after
Shemoneh Esrei. In addition, Selichos before
davening can help us prepare ourselves to
daven with more concentration, and be a
merit for us during the days of Elul.
If one comes to shul and they have already
started davening, he can daven with them and
then say Selichos later at another minyan.