Siman 581 – The Days of Selichos

וChelek 6

1. The Ashkenazic custom is to begin blowing the shofar after Shacharis from Rosh Chodesh Elul. (Rama 1)

2. Another custom is to say “L’Dovid Hashem ori..” after daavening morning and evening from Rosh Chodesh Elul until and including Shemini Atzeres. On Rosh Chodesh, say Borchi Nafshi first. The Shir Shel Yom also comes before “L’Dovid”. (MB 2)

3. During Elul, wish people “l’shana tova” on written mail. (BaH10)

4. On the Sunday before Rosh Hashana we begin to say Selichos. Since a minimum of four days of Selichos is required, begin Selichos the week before the Sunday before Rosh Hashana if Rosh Hashana falls on Monday or Tuesday (Rama 1)

5. You may recite the Selichos privately, just skip the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy and any prayers written in Aramaic. (MB 4)

6. If there in no minyan at the time for starting with Ashray, go on with the Selichos and when a minyan arrives interrupt for the last three pesukim of Ashray and Kaddish. If you began with a minyan but by the end some of the people left, you can still recite the final Kaddish of Selichos. (MB 4)

7. Begin the paragraph with “Elokaynu Vaylokay avosaynu..” unless the paragraph begins with one of Hashem’s names. (MB 4)

8. The chazzan must wear a tallis for the Thirteen Attributes even if it is still night time. In order not to get involved in a machlokes about saying a beracha on the tallis, rather borrow one and have in mind not to acquire it – only wear it for honor. (MB 6)

9. The chazzan should ideally fulfil the following requirements: great in Torah knowledge and good deeds – 30 years or older – married – a leader that knows peoples anguish first hand – trustworthy. (Rama 1 – MB 9)

10. A chazzan and a tokaya should be complete baalay teshuva. They should learn the kavanas of the tefillos and tekios from the Zohar. (MB 11)

11. A chazzan or a tokaya that began the mitzvah even once shouldn’t have that mitzvah taken away from him and given to someone else. If he gets sick, give the mitzva back to him when he is well. (MB 11)

12. The minhag is to fast on erev Rosh Hashana. It is proper to fast 10 fasts during these days. Most people fast on the first day of Selichos. (ShA 2 – Rama 2 – MB 15)

13. These fasts need not be completed and they do not require a kaballa from the day before. Insert Anaynu into Shomaya Tefilla of Mincha only in the quiet Shemoneh Esray. (Rama 2 – MB 15, 16)

14. If you feel slightly ill you can break your fast. It is best to first release your nedder if you can find someone to do that. (MB 19 – ShaH33) Siman 581 Continued

15. On the day of a bris mila it is a Yom Tov for the father of the boy, the sandek and the mohel. Therefore it is a mitzva for them to eat even if it falls on erev Rosh Hashana. (MB 19)

16. On erev Rosh Hashana say Tachanun only after Selichos but not after daavening. (ShA 3)

17. Do not blow the shofar on erev Rosh Hashana. If you want to practice, do it in a closed room. (Rama 3 – MB 24)

18. You should launder clothes and cut your hair on erev Rosh Hashana to show your secure feelings about Hashem’s kindness in judgement. However, your fear of judgement should withhold you from wearing your best Yom Tov clothes. (ShA 4 – MB 25)

19. Go to the mikva on erev Rosh Hashana not earlier that an hour before noon. It is best not to have marital relations on the two nights of Rosh Hashana. If you do, go to the mikva again in the morning. (Rama 4 – MB 26)

20. There is a custom to daaven at the graves of the righteous on erev Rosh Hashana. GIve tzedoka beforehand and make sure to daaven to Hashem only. He should accept the prayers in the merit of the deceased tzadikim. (Rama 4 – MB 27)

21. We customarily do Hataras Nedarim on erev Rosh Hashana. (ShaT7)