Selichot

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Selichot (Heb. סליחות) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holy Days, and on Fast Days. The Thirteen Attributes of God are a central theme throughout the prayers.

[edit] Selichot of the High Holidays

In the Sephardic tradition, Selichot begins during the series of Selichot services of the High Holidays. Selichot is usually recited between midnight and dawn, thouugh many recite it at night after the Maariv service or in the morning before the Shacharit service due to the convenience of synagogue attendance at these times. Selichot refers to both the service itself as well as to each of the poetic piyyutim that compose the service. Though the length varies from the eve of Yom Kippur as the shortest and the eve of Rosh Hashannah as the longest, The format remains practically constant. The service begins with the recitation of Psalm 145, followed by the Half Kaddish.

Arguably the most famous, most important, and certainly most popular night of Selichot is the first night, which in the Ashkenazic Tradition falls on the Saturday Night before Rosh Hashannah (or two Saturday nights before Rosh Hashannah if Rosh Hashannah falls early in the week). The Chazan wears a kittel and sings elaborate melodies. It is not unusual for a choir to participate in this first night's service. This night also has more selichot than any other night prior to the eve of Rosh Hashannah. The other nights are more sparsely attended and those services may be led by a layperson.

Categories of selichot in the Ashkenazic tradition may include:

Selicha (סליחה) -- Hebrew for "forgiveness", this is the default selicha and comprises the vast majority of the selichot service.
Pizmon' (פזמון) -- Hebrew for "chorus", these central selichot contain a chorus which is repeated after each stanza.
Akeidah (עקדה) -- Hebrew for "binding", a word which specifically refers to the Binding of Isaac'; It is a selichah which contains the theme of the Binding as a merit for God answering our prayers. It begins to appear on the eve of Rosh Hashannah and is placed immediately before the Pizmon
Chatanu (חטאנו) -- Hebrew for "we have sinned", Starting on the evening before Rosh Hashannah through Yom Kippur, this selicha is located after the final recitation of the Thirteen Attributes and before the Vidui confession. It contains as its refrain "חטאנו צורנו סלח לנו יוצרנו", "we have sinned, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator". Perhaps the most famous Chatanu Selicha is the Eleh Ezkera Martyrology recited during Musaf on Yom Kippur, though the recitation of the aforementioned refrain is not always followed in this particular Chatanu.
Tachana (תחנה) -- Hebrew for "petition", this begins to appear on the eve of Rosh Hashannah in the Tachanun section at the very end of the selichot service

[edit] Selichot of Fast Days

On minor fast days (besides the Fast of Gedaliah whose selichot is preempted by the selichot of the High Holidays) some communities recite selichot. These selichot are recited at the conclusion of the Shacharit Amidah and each contain poetry related to the specific fast day.