[Avodah] Selichos - Especially before Midnight

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 9/16/07, Arie Folger <afolger at aishdas.org> wrote:
>
>
>
> Repeat after me: saying selichos in the evening is not a Jeckishe minhog.
> We
> say selichos [at 6:15] in the morning even on the first day, despite it
> being
> Sunday.
>
> AFAIK, we have been doing this for over 200 years in our kehilloh, and
> that
> must have been taken over from even older Ashkenaz communities.
>
> Whoever invented this novel idea of saying selichos right after the TV
> show,
> before the late night show, wasn't trying to observe minhog Ashkenaz,
> AFAIK.
>
> While I do not swallow minhog Ashkenaz hook, sink and barrel, preferring
> instead to analyze it. It is much of the time rooted in most ancient
> pisqei
> halakhah - "from before the standardization *on* the Bavli," as RRW is
> wont
> to say. For some reason not connected to minhog Ashkenaz, but very much
> connected to the religious disconnectedness of a large number of our
> brethren
> since the 19th century, Jeckes are blamed for anything not halakhically
> acceptable. This is unjustified. Blame Reform, blame the various kofrim
> veapiqorsim, messissim umedi'him our people has unfortunately endured in
> the
> last 200 years, but do not blame the Jeckes.
>
> Chassieme tauwoh,
> --
> (Rabbi) Arie Folger, Israelitische Gemeinde Basel
> happily embracing the old, well worn tradition of our kehilloh,
> happily learning minhog Ashkenaz,
> who-is-nonetheless-half-Galicianer-half-Moroccan
> http://www.ariefolger.googlepages.com
> _______________________________________________


I want to Echo R.Arie Folger's sentiments.

There was a [mis-leading imho] statement that Hatzos is the ideal time for
Sellichos floating around Teaneck, NJ.  Yet, - AFAIK  based upon sources
etc. as well as the Yekkishe Minhag -   THE IDEAL time t is RIGHT BEFORE
dawn, pre-vaissikim. As we know, the first night MIGHT be a valid exception
in that pizmon - even for yekkes - starts "Bemotzo'ei Menuchei" -
suggesting  A Saturday Night start.  [nevertheless as noted - Yekkes do it
before dawn even on the first Sunday...]

And a disclaimer of sorts:
I agree with R. Arie that TV etc. is NO reason to do Selichos before Hatzos
MY essntial justification is re: Kavvanah!  I.E. if one's Kavvanh is best at
10:00 PM over and above either 1:00 Am or 6:00 AM. I think the Kavvanah
counts, or even trumps in the cheshbon.  But I am NOT saying it ever makes
10:00 Pm a lecatchila option, AISI it is a valid sha'as hadechak option when
justifiable.

[Also if it is the ONLY time a community can get a minyan it is tantamount
to davening an early Ma'ariv during a Summer weeknight which IS a yekkishe
custom.]

Remember the same sources that demand 13 Middos after hatzos ALSO deem
Tikkun Hatzos as preferential over Selichos!


Kesiva vaChasima Tova
Best Wishes for 5768,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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