1. Timing and Structure of Selichos Before Rosh Hashanah
The first Selichos—penitential prayers—is always begun on Motzoei Shabbos. When Rosh Hashanah comes out on Thursday, this gives four days of Selichos: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Erev Rosh Hashanah on Wednesday, which is itself the longest of them. The custom is that there be at least four days of Selichos before Rosh Hashanah, corresponding to the four days a korban is examined for a blemish. If Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos, the same starting rule applies and there are then six days of Selichos, Sunday through Friday. Rosh Hashanah itself cannot fall on Sunday, Wednesday or Friday (lo BaDU Rosh). If Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday or Tuesday, starting from the immediately preceding Motzoei Shabbos would leave only one or two days. In such years, we begin Selichos from the previous week’s Saturday night. If Rosh Hashanah is Monday, you have six days from the previous week plus Sunday—seven in all; if it’s Tuesday, six plus Sunday and Monday—eight in all. So depending on the year there are four, six, seven or eight days of Selichos, and never fewer than four.2. The First Night of Selichos: Customs and Liturgy
The first Selichos is always recited at night, specifically after midnight on Saturday night (Motzei Shabbos). The liturgy begins with “B’motzoei menucha kidamnucha techila—at the departure of the day of rest, we come before You first,” signifying that immediately after Shabbos ends, we turn to Hashem for forgiveness. Since Shabbos itself is holy and does not permit Selichos, we wait until after midnight to begin. Although Shabbos technically ends earlier, there is still the meal of Melaveh Malka—bidding farewell to the Queen (Shabbos)—and we refrain from saying Tachnun—supplicatory prayers—until midnight. In practice, Selichos begins at chatzos—halachic midnight—which at this time of year falls somewhat after 12:00 AM clock time and varies by location; consult a local calendar for the exact time.3. Spiritual Preparation: Torah Study and Tzedakah Before Selichos
The Rebbe instructed that it is fitting for all synagogues—not only Chassidim—to connect the recitation of Selichos with Torah study and giving tzedakah—charity. This forms a strong spiritual “strand” made up of prayer, Torah learning, and charity. Before midnight (prior to starting Selichos), one should study a Chassidic discourse (ma’amar) beginning with “L’cha Hashem HaTzedakah—To You Hashem belongs righteousness,” which discusses themes of repentance and forgiveness. At minimum, study the beginning and end of this discourse. Additionally, learn some halachic material—a practical Torah law—to combine both Chassidus and practical halacha. Giving tzedakah, ideally after midnight but before starting Selichos, further enhances one’s prayers. If necessary, even delay starting by a minute to put some coins in the pushka (charity box). This combination helps open oneself spiritually so that requests for forgiveness are more readily accepted.4. Leading Selichos: Talis Customs and Minyan Requirements
The prayer leader (shliach tzibur) wraps himself in a tallis but does not make a blessing since it is nighttime. Even during daytime Selichos, if using someone else’s tallis (not your own), you do not recite a blessing unless you will continue wearing it into morning prayers when it becomes obligatory. When beginning with Ashrei, ensure ten people are present so that Kaddish can be recited immediately afterward. If only nine are present when starting but a tenth arrives before Kaddish, say a few verses first so Kaddish follows verses as required by halacha. If there were ten people present for Selichos, no one should leave before Kaddish at the end so as not to deprive the group of a minyan for Kaddish Tiskabel (the special Kaddish said after prayers). However, if most people leave but at least six remain (majority), Kaddish may still be said; fewer than six is insufficient.5. Pronunciation and Musical Traditions During Selichos
There are specific points in the liturgy where the chazan raises his voice—such as at “ha-neshama lach v’haguf pa’olach—the soul is Yours and the body is Your handiwork.” In certain prayers, such as “Keil rachum shemecha—G‑d, merciful is Your Name,” the pronunciation follows particular customs: “asei l’maan amitach, asei l’maan britach, asei l’maan gadlach v’sifartach”—with the suffix sounded as ‘-ach’ rather than ‘-echa’. The Rebbe pronounced these with specific vowels. In sections like “Aneinu—answer us, G‑d,” wherever there are two dots (like an end-of-verse marker), the chazan says those lines aloud while others are said softly—unlike other communities where all may be said aloud or only at certain points. A unique musical tradition during these days involves singing the Alter Rebbe’s niggun, the Daled Bavos—a wordless melody considered especially holy, which is sung only at designated times, among them the festivals, Yud-Tes Kislev, the month of Elul and the days of Selichos, and the escorting of a chosson to the chuppah.6. Laws Regarding Individual Recitation and Aramaic Sections
When reciting Selichos alone without a minyan, one does not say the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy (shelosh esrei middot shel rachamim). Some communities have a custom to chant these verses using Torah cantillation (ta’amim/trup) when alone—since then it’s like reading Torah—but our tradition is not to say them at all individually or with trup. Similarly, Aramaic sections within Selichos—such as “Machei Umasei—He wounds and He heals”—are omitted when davening alone according to many authorities including Kitzur Shulchan Aruch and others. These sections were composed in Aramaic partly because they require a minyan like Kaddish does.7. Kaddish Tiskabel: Placement and Frequency During Prayers
Kaddish Tiskabel—the special Kaddish asking Hashem to accept our prayers—is recited once per main prayer service (after Shemoneh Esrei/Amidah). During Selichos with a minyan, this Kaddish is also said after finishing Selichos itself—even if another prayer service follows immediately afterward (such as Shacharis). At 770 by the Rebbe’s shul, after finishing Kaddish Tiskabel following Selichos they would sing “Rachamana d’anei la’aniyei, aneina”—a moving melody associated with these days—and the Rebbe encouraged this singing as part of uplifting the community spirit during this time.