[Avodah] minhag of selichot

[Eli Turkel]

Let me quote from RYBS (Noraot HaRav vol 6 p237)
Note especially end of quote



Selichos is an ancient institution. How old, I do not know. It is
difficult to guess.
The institution of selichos is not mentioned in the gemara explicitly
although it
is mentioned implicitly (discussed later in the shiur). However, I am
certain that it
is an institution which dates back to ancient times although I do not
know har far
in antiquity this institution can be traced. The Geonim discussed Selichos.
But they did not refer to it as something new they had introduced. Rhather
they referred to it as something which had been in existence prior to
their time. Rav Amram Gaon
and Rav Saadia Gaon both refererred to Selichos as something which was
already well
established at their time.
        On the other hand it is impossible to maintain that reciting Selichos
is mideoraisa. Selichos is an institution or a minhag. AS the Rambam says
"ve-nahagu kol yisrael" it is customary to recite silechos. But a
minhag must be based
uopn something. Sometimes a minhag or halacha per see is only miderabban.
Hiwever, the basis, the background of that particular halacha or of
that particular
minhag is mideoraisa, biblical in origin and is sometimes quite fundamental.
Selchos is of that category




-- 
Eli Turkel