Question:
I have heard that there are different opinions with regarding to the correct or ideal time for saying selichos, what is the correct or ideal time one should say it?
Answer:
With regarding to When Should Selichos be Said the following discussion will elaborate on the different views of this.
With relating to the Earliest Time for Selichos:
Most authorities say that Selichos should not be recited at night prior to Chatzot Layla, halachic midnight.
The Magen Avraham 565:5 quotes the Arizal as saying that one should not say Selichos, particularly the 13 middot of rachamim, prior to Chatzot at night. Shaare Teshuva 581:1 quoting Birkei Yosef (Orach Chaim 581:1) argue that it is inappropriate according to Kabbalah for one to recite Selichos 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 Selichos are being recited before midnight should not recite the yud gimmel middot along with the congregation. Instead, he should remain silent or recite Tehillim.
Similarly, Rav Moshe Zachuto in Shu”t Ramaz 30 writes that it is important to only say selichos after chatzot. The Birkei Yosef 581:1, the Mishna Brurah 565:12, the Kaf HaChaim Orach Chaim 581:1,2, Kaf Hachaim Palacci 16:13 and Ma’amar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:4 all agree with this.
It is brought in the name of many poskim that one may say Selichos according to when Chatzot is in Israel, he concludes clearly that this is not an acceptable leniency
However, some communities, such as the Spanish-Portuguese of London and Amsterdam, recited a condensed version of Selichos after Arvit before Kaddish Titkabal and some argue in favor of this custom.
Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe O.C. 2:105) writes that although prior to Chatzot is not the ideal time, there is no prohibition to say Selichos at such a time, and as a Hora’at Sha’ah, one may be lenient. Saying them at this time is better than not saying them at all. 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. Rav Moshe warns though that the congregation should be warned that this is only being done under the circumstances and next year we will do it at the proper time.Therefore he writes that in extenuating circumstances one can say selichos before Chatzot.
On Erev Rosh HaShana one should make an extra effort to get up early to say Selichos before Olot HaShachar.
Although one shouldn’t say the Selichos before chatzot of the night, one is permitted to listen to them via a recording in order to practice the words and the tunes.
The Latest Time for Selichos
Preferably, Selichos should be said at the end of the night before Olot HaShachar,[18] but if one delayed one can say it after Olot HaShachar. Those who are unable to rise early to say Selichos, should nonetheless say Selichos, either in the morning before Shacharit or even in the afternoon before Mincha. The morning is therefore better for saying than in the afternoon.
The Mishna Brurah (Introduction to 581), the Maamar Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu) 34:5 write that preferably, Selichos should be said at the end of the night before Olot HaShachar.The Imrei Noam of Gra on Brachot 3a s.v. yesh omrim interprets the gemara that the shifts of the night (heb. אשומורות הלילה; trans. ashmurot haleyla) do not end at olot like the Tosfot and Magen Avraham understood. Rather they end at Netz like the Rambam. See Rav Moshe Feinstein (2:105) who relates the time of selichos to the shifts of the night.
The minhag is to say selichos before Shacharit even when it is after Olot even though Tadir would demand that it is said afterwards.
If someone missed selichos and could either daven with a minyan or say selichos first and then daven by himself he should daven with the minyan and then say selichos by himself. |
