[Avodah] Some Thoughts and Questions About Yitzchak Meir Helfgot Selichot 2011

[Prof. Levine]

Recently someone sent me the link to a video of Chazan Helfgot 
Selichos this year at the Park East Synagogue.  He thought that it 
was very beautiful.

My reactions to this are the following.

1.  These Selichos started at 10:30 PM, well before Chatzos. (See 
http://www.parkeastsynagogue.org/news.php) Is one allowed to say 
Selichos at this time?  Aren't Selichos supposed to be said before 
Shachris.  Indeed, I have been told by a number of people that 
Selichos were said in Europe early in the morning before Shachris, 
even on Motzie Shabbos.

Furthermore, a friend of mine recently told me that the Kiryas Yoel 
Satmar Rebbe issued a strong statement against those who wanted to 
say Selichos at 1 AM after Shabbos. He supposedly said that this was 
never their minhag and that the old Satmar rebbe would have never 
approved of such a thing.

What is the source of the practice of saying Selichos on Motzie 
Shabbos at 1 AM? Indeed, what is the source of the practice of saying 
Selichos on other days in the evening.  This is indeed done in some shuls.

2.  From the video this event appears to me to be more like a concert 
than davening.  Note that the people shown are pretty much passive 
throughout the whole thing. And the fact that it says at 
http://www.parkeastsynagogue.org/news.php

SELICHOT AND HIGH HOLY DAY TICKETS

With the summer already here the High Holy days cannot be far 
away.  On Saturday night September 24, 2011 at 9PM Rabbi Arthur 
Schneier will deliver his annual State of World Jewry address.  At 
10:30PM Selichot services will be led by Chief Cantor Yitzchak Meir 
Helfgot, Maestro Russell Ger and the Park East Synagogue 
Choir.  Synagogue members are entitled to tickets, while non-members 
can purchase Selichot tickets for $50 (rear) or $100 (front) by 
calling the Synagogue office.  As in past years, we expect to sell 
out very quickly so do not wait to make your reservation.  Additional 
tickets for Rosh Hashanah (September 28-30) and Yom Kippur (October 
7-8) can be purchased by members for $500.  The Parallel Service for 
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be held in the Brooks Ballroom and 
officiated by Rabbi Eliyahu Stern and Cantor Laivi 
Freundlich.  Tickets are on sale for $150.

seems to me to back up my observation that this is more of a concert 
than davening.  Is this the "appropriate" way to say Selichos?  YL


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