Selichot

Selichot (Hebrew: סְלִיחוֹת, romanized: səliḥoṯ, singular: סליחה, səliḥā) are Jewish penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on fast days. The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are a central theme throughout these prayers.

Crowd performing Selichot and Annulment of Vows (Hatarat Nedarim) at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Selichot prayer leaf (c. 8th–9th century) discovered in the famous Mogao Caves of Dunhuang, Gansu, China in 1908 by Paul Pelliot.

Selichot of the High Holidays

Man reciting Slichot prayers at the Western Wall, 2008

Another man with a shofar during the Slichot prayers, also at the Western Wall.

In the Sephardic tradition, recital of Selichot in preparation for the High Holidays begins on the second day of the Hebrew month of Elul. In the Ashkenazi tradition, in years where the first day of Rosh Hashanah begins on a Thursday or Saturday, selichot are recited from the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah. If, however, the first day of Rosh Hashanah falls on a Monday or Tuesday, selichot are recited from the Saturday night more than a week before Rosh Hashanah to ensure that it is recited at least four times. This may be because originally the pious would fast for ten days during the season of repentance, and four days before Rosh Hashanah were added to compensate for the four of the Ten Days of Repentance on which fasting is forbidden – the two days of Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat Shuvah, and the day preceding Yom Kippur—and, while the fasts are observed by very few today, the Selichot that accompanied them have been retained. Alternatively, the Rosh Hashanah liturgy includes the Biblical phrase "you shall observe a burnt offering", and like an offering which needs to be scrutinised for defects for four days, so too four days of self-searching are needed before the day of judgment.^[1]

In the Italian rite, selichot always begin on a Monday or Thursday shortly before Rosh Hashanah. If Rosh Hashanah falls on Monday, they begin the previous Monday. If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Tuesday, they begin on the Monday eight days before. If Rosh Hashana falls on Thursday, they begin the previous Thursday. If Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, they begin the Monday of that week.^[2]

Selichot refers to both the piyyutim that compose the service as well as to the service itself. In most Sephardic communities, selichot services are identical each day. However, some North African communities recited different selichot on Mondays, Thursdays and Shabbat, following the order in Siftei Renanot, while keeping the "standard" order on days without Torah Reading.^[3] In the Eastern Ashkenazic tradition, although the text and length of specific prayers varies from day to day, the overall format remains the same and is prefaced by Ashrei (Psalms 145) and the Half-Kaddish. In the Western Ashkenazic tradition, there is similarly an overall format, but it begins with Adon Olam or Lecha Hashem Ha'Tzedaka, and the Half-Kaddish follows the first set of the thirteen attributes.^[4]

Selichot are usually recited between midnight and dawn. Some recite it at night after the Maariv prayer, or in the morning before Shacharit, due to the convenience of synagogue attendance when a prayer is already taking place there.

The most popular night of Selichot in the Ashkenazi tradition is the first night, when many women and girls as well as men and boys attend the late-night service on Saturday night. In some communities, the hazzan wears a kittel and sings elaborate melodies. In some congregations, it is not unusual for a choir to participate in this first night's service.^[5] In the Eastern Ashkenazic tradition, this night also has more Selichot than any other night prior to Rosh Hashanah eve. The other nights are sometimes more sparsely attended and those services are often led by a layperson, rather than a trained musician, and with melodies that are less elaborate than the first night.

In addition to the Selichot of the High Holiday period, the recitation of Selichot on Yom Kippur itself is the centerpiece and most important part of the liturgy,^[6] recited in all of the prayers of the day. Beginning in the late 19th Century,^[7] many communities in Eastern Europe stopped reciting Selichot except at Maariv and Neilah.^[8] Western Ashkenazic communities, as well as a small number of Eastern Ashkenazic communities, maintain the recitation of Selichot in all of the prayers of Yom Kippur. Italian rite communities recite Selichot on Yom Kippur in all of the prayers except Musaf. Sephardic communities also recite Selichot at all of the prayers of Yom Kippur, although they recite them after the Chazzan's repetition rather than as a part of it.

Categories of Selichot

Categories of Selichot in the Ashkenazic tradition may include:

• Selichah (סליחה 'forgiveness') – This is the default Selichah and comprises the vast majority of the Selichot service. These can be subdivided into categories of Sheinya (with two line stanzas), Shelishiya (with three line stanzas) and Shalmonit (with four line stanzas).
• Pizmon (פזמון 'chorus') – These central Selichot vary according to the day and contain a chorus which is repeated after each stanza.
• Akeidah (עקידה 'binding', a word which specifically refers to the Binding of Isaac) – This Selichah contains the theme of the Akeidah as a merit for God answering our prayers. It begins to appear on Rosh Hashanah eve and is placed immediately before or after the Pizmon.
• Chatanu (חטאנו 'we have sinned') – Starting on the evening before Rosh Hashanah [and in the Western rites, even on the first days] and continuing through Yom Kippur, this Selichah is said after the final recitation of the Thirteen Attributes and before the Vidui confessional. It contains as its refrain, "חטאנו צורנו סלח לנו יוצרנו" ('We have sinned, our Rock; forgive us, our Creator'). Perhaps the most famous Chatanu Selichah is the martyrology from the Midrash Eleh Ezkerah recited in the Eastern Ashkenazic rite during Musaf on Yom Kippur or at other times in other rites. The recitation of this refrain has been partially or entirely abandoned in many communities.
• Techinah (תחינה 'petition') – This Selichah begins to appear on the eve of Rosh Hashanah and other days in some rites, during Tachnun at the very end of the Selichot service.

Selichot of Fast Days

On minor fast days (including the Fast of Behav), some communities recite Selichot after the conclusion of the Shacharit Amidah.^[9][10] The content of these prayers is related to the specific fast day. In some communities (especially Western Ashkenazic communities, but also some Eastern Ashkenazic communities), the older practice is maintained to insert the recitation of the Selichot of minor fast days in the middle of the blessing for forgiveness (סלח לנו כי חטאנו) in the repetition of the Shacharit Amidah.

In Ashkenazic commuinities, Selichot are recited on the Fast of Gedaliah only before the prayer service like the selichot of the High Holidays; in many Sephardic communities, additional selichot are recited after the Amidah just like any other fast day. Selichot are not recited in any community today on the major fast day of Tisha B'Av, although they were recited by the Geonim of Babylonia.^[11]

Prayer book Selichot Minhag from Colmar, 1775, made by David Sulzburg, in the collection of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland.  

Selichot on other occasions

In addition to High Holidays and Fast Days, there were communities that recited Selichot on Hoshana Rabbah.^[12]

Additionally, in the early modern period, there were "shomerim la-boker societies" which recited Selichot on every day of the year that Tachanun is recited.^[13]

Selichot rites

There are at least thirteen Ashkenazic printed rites for selichot:^[14]

The following eight are variations of the Western Ashkenazic rite:

1. Frankfurt and its surroundings^[15]
2. Alsace^[16]
3. Italian Ashkenazim^[17]
4. Nuremberg and Fürth^[18]
5. Switzerland and Swabia^[19]
6. Worms^[20]
7. Cologne^[21]
8. Floß^[22]

The following five are variations of the Eastern Ashkenazic rite:

1. Poland (Polin)^[23]
2. Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, and Hungary^[24]
3. Lithuania and Samogitia (Lita and Zamut)^[25]
4. Poznań and Grodno^[26]
5. Old Synagogue in Prague^[27]

Among 21st century Ashkenazi Jewish communities, the Polin and Lita variations are dominant, although Bohemia is the most common in England. Some associate Lita with Nusach Ashkenaz and Polin with Nusach Sefard, likely because in early 20th Century most Jews in Poland had adopted Nusach Sefard, whereas most Jews in Lithuania maintained Nusach Ashkenaz. However, the differences between Polin and Lita Selichot have origins several hundred years before the advent of Nusach Sefard, and the minhagim were geographic rather than ideological. Chabad recites Selichot according to Nusach Lita because they are from Lithuania, and there are Polish mitnagdim who recite Selichot according to Nusach Polin.

The poems recited in the major variations, with their assigned numbers, are as follows (page numbers in square brackets):

Title	Frankfurt[28][29]		Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia, Hungary[30]		Lita[31]		Polin[32]
	Day	No.	Day	No.	Day	No.	Day	No.
אָב לְרַחֵם וְרַב סְלוֹחַ חוֹלַלְתָּנוּ‎ ‎	5 of TDR	104[28]: 338			Erev RH	37[31]: 100
אָבְדוּ חַכְמֵי גָזִית‎ ‎	4 of TDR	93[28]: 322
אֲבוֹתַי כְּרַבְתָּ רִיבָם‎ ‎	6	31[28]: 70
אָבְלָה נַפְשִׁי‎ ‎	FG	61[28]: 278	FG	44[30]: 64	FG	48[31]: 130	FG	44[32]: 301
אָדוֹן, בִּינָה הַגִיגֵנוּ‎ ‎	1	6[28]: 18			2 of TDR	67[31]: 165
אָדוֹן, בְּפָקְדְךָ אֱנוֹשׁ לַבְּקָרִים‎ ‎	Erev RH	38[28]: 84	Erev RH	29[30]: 40	Erev RH	34[31]: 95	Erev RH	29[32]: 234
אָדוֹן, בְּפָקְדְךָ אֱנוֹשׁ לַבְּקָרִים‎ ‎	Erev YK	113[28]: 353	Erev YK	88[30]: 106	Erev YK	98[31]: 218	Erev YK	86[32]: 476
אָדוֹן, בְּשָׁפְטְךָ אֱנוֹשׁ רִמָּה‎ ‎	Erev RH	39[28]: 85	Erev RH	28[30]: 39	Erev RH	35[31]: 97	Erev RH	30[32]: 237
אָדוֹן, בְּשָׁפְטְךָ אֱנוֹשׁ רִמָּה‎ ‎	Erev YK	114[28]: 353
אָדוֹן, דִּין אִם יְדֻקְדַּק‎ ‎	Erev RH	48[28]: 99	Erev RH	34[30]: 44			Erev RH	28[32]: 232
אָדוֹן, דִּין אִם יְדֻקְדַּק‎ ‎	Erev YK	122[28]: 353	Erev YK	89[30]: 106	Erev YK	99[31]: 218	Erev YK	85[32]: 474
אָדוֹן, מוֹעֵד כְּתִקַּח‎ ‎	Erev RH	40[33][28]: 86	Erev RH	25[30]: 35	Erev RH	25[31]: 67	Erev RH	27[32]: 230
אָדוֹן, מוֹעֵד כְּתִקַּח‎ ‎	Erev YK	112[28]: 353
אָדוֹן, מִשְׁפָּט בְּקִרְבָּךְ‎ ‎	7	36[28]: 81
אָדָם אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה‎ ‎			Erev RH	33[30]: 43			Erev RH	32[32]: 241
אֲדֹנָי שְׁמָעָה אֲדֹנָי סְלָחָה‎ ‎	4	20[28]: 49
אַהֲבַת עִזּוּז וְתוֹקֶף חִבָּה‎ ‎	Erev YK	126[28]: 353	5 of TDR	86[30]: 104
אֹהֶל שִׁכֵּן אִם רִקֵּן‎ ‎	4 of TDR	96[28]: 327
אוֹדֶה עֲלֵי פִשְׁעִי‎ ‎	4 of TDR	98[28]: 329
אֱוִילֵי הַמַּתְעֶה מַרְגִּיז וּמַחֲטִיא‎ ‎			Erev RH	32[30]: 42
אֱוִילֵי מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם‎ ‎	5 of TDR	108[28]: 344
אִוִּיתִיךָ קִוִּיתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחַקִּים‎ ‎	4	18[28]: 46	2	7[30]: 18	2	6[31]: 33	5	14[32]: 155
אוֹמֶץ יוֹסִיף טְהוֹר יָדַיִם‎ ‎			5 of TDR	83[30]: 101	5 of TDR	91[31]: 208
אוֹרַח צְדָקָה‎ ‎	FG	64[28]: 282
אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ שְׁלַח‎ ‎	Erev RH	47[28]: 97	2 of TDR	55[30]: 74	FG	50[31]: 133	FG	46[32]: 306
אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ שְׁלַח‎ ‎	Erev YK	121[28]: 353
אָז בְּהַר מוֹר‎ ‎	5 of TDR	106[28]: 341	Erev RH	39[30]: 50	5 of TDR	92[31]: 211	FG	49[32]: 314
אָז טֶרֶם נִמְתְּחוּ נִבְלֵי שְׁכָבִים‎ ‎	5 of TDR	100[28]: 332	FG	42[30]: 62	FG	46[31]: 126	FG	42[32]: 294
אָז קַשְׁתִּי וְחַרְבִּי‎ ‎	4	21[28]: 50
אֱזוֹן תַּחַן‎ ‎	5	24[28]: 57	5 of TDR	84[30]: 103	5 of TDR	89[31]: 204	5 of TDR	81[32]: 453
אָזְנְךָ הַטֵּה וְהַקְשֵׁב‎ ‎			5 of TDR	80[30]: 98
אֶזְעַק אֶל אֶלֹהִים קוֹלִי‎ ‎			3 of TDR	64[30]: 84	Erev RH	36[31]: 98	2 of TDR	55[32]: 342
אֶזְרָחִי הֵעִיר מִמִזְרָח‎ ‎					3 of TDR	74[31]: 178
אֶזְרָחִי מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר‎ ‎	FG	66[28]: 285	4 of TDR	76[30]: 95	2 of TDR	65[31]: 163	3 of TDR	66[32]: 385
אַיֵּה כָּל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ הַגְּדוֹלוֹת וְהַנּוֹרָאוֹת‎ ‎	3	14[28]: 40	4	12[30]: 22	4	12[31]: 42	4	12[32]: 138
אַיֵּה קִנְאָתְךָ וּגְבוּרֹתֶךָ‎ ‎			2	6[30]: 17	6	18[31]: 54	5	15[32]: 157
אֲיַחֵד צוּרִי בְּרוֹב הוֹדָאוֹת‎ ‎					FG	56[31]: 145
אֵיךְ אוּכַל לָבֹא עָדֶיךָ‎ ‎	4 of TDR	91[28]: 318			2 of TDR	64[31]: 160	3 of TDR	64[32]: 379
אֵיךְ נִפְתַּח פֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ‎ ‎	1	1[34][28]: 7	1	1[30]: 6	1	1[31]: 8	1	1[32]: 63
אֵיךְ נִפְתַּח פֶּה לְפָנֶיךָ‎ ‎	FG	60[28]: 278
אֵיכָכָה אֶפְצֶה פֶּה‎ ‎	5 of TDR	103[28]: 336			Erev RH	24[31]: 65	Erev RH	24[32]: 215
אֵין כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר מִדָּתֶךָ‎ ‎	3	12[28]: 36	5	15[30]: 25	3	8[31]: 35	2	6[32]: 100
אֵין מִי יִקְרָא בְצֶדֶק‎ ‎	5	22[28]: 53	1	2[30]: 8	1	2[31]: 11	1	2[32]: 69
אֵין תְּלוּיָה לְרֹאשׁ‎ ‎			7	21[30]: 30
אֵיתָן לִמַּד דַּעַת‎ ‎	2 of TDR	76[28]: 299	3 of TDR	67[30]: 86	4 of TDR	83[31]: 195	2 of TDR	58[32]: 352
אַךְ בְּךָ לַדָּל מָעוֹז‎ ‎	Erev RH	43[28]: 91	Erev RH	31[30]: 41			Erev RH	31[32]: 239
אַךְ בְּךָ לַדָּל מָעוֹז‎ ‎	Erev YK	117[28]: 353
אַךְ בְּךָ מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ ‎	4 of TDR	92[28]: 320			2 of TDR	61[31]: 153	3 of TDR	61[32]: 369
אַךְ בְּמֵתַח דִּין‎ ‎	Erev RH	41[28]: 88	Erev RH	30[30]: 41			Erev RH	33[32]: 244
אַךְ בְּמֵתַח דִּין‎ ‎	Erev YK	115[28]: 353
אֶל אֱלוֹהַּ דָּלְפָה עֵינִי‎ ‎			Erev RH	27[30]: 37	Erev RH	28[31]: 72	Erev RH	26[32]: 223
אֶל אֱלֹקִים אֶצְעֲקָה בְּמִלּוּלִי‎ ‎	Erev YK	128[28]: 356
אֵל אֱמוּנָה עֶזְרָה הָבָה‎ ‎					Erev RH	29[31]: 77	Erev RH	34[32]: 246
אַל בְּאַפְּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיט‎ ‎	Erev RH	44[28]: 92
אַל בְּאַפְּךָ פֶּן תַּמְעִיט‎ ‎	Erev YK	118[28]: 353
אֶל הַר הַמּוֹר‎ ‎	3 of TDR	86[28]: 312	2 of TDR	58[30]: 77			5 of TDR	83[32]: 458
אַל יִמְעַט לְפָנֶיךָ‎ ‎			7	22[30]: 31
אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא‎ ‎	5	26[28]: 60
אַל נָא תְּיַסֵּר בָּאֵי עָדֶיךָ‎ ‎	Erev RH	42[28]: 90
אַל נָא תְּיַסֵּר בָּאֵי עָדֶיךָ‎ ‎	Erev YK	116[28]: 353
אַל תָּבוֹא בְּמִשְׁפָּט עִמָּנוּ‎ ‎							Erev RH	37[32]: 260
אֵלֶה אֶזְכְּרָה‎ ‎	Erev RH	55[28]: 113
אֵלֶיךָ ה' אֶקְרָא אָיוֹם‎ ‎	6	27[28]: 61					4 of TDR	69[32]: 401
אֵלֶיךָ ה' שִׁוַּעְתִּי‎ ‎	2 of TDR	75[28]: 298	4 of TDR	72[30]: 90			3 of TDR	62[32]: 374
אֵלֶיךָ הָאֵל‎ ‎					3 of TDR	70[31]: 168
אֵלֶיךָ לֵב וָנֶפֶשׁ‎ ‎	2 of TDR	70[28]: 290	3 of TDR	60[30]: 80	2 of TDR	60[31]: 152	2 of TDR	52[32]: 334
אֵלֶיךָ נְשׂוּאוֹת עֵינֵינוּ‎ ‎	4	17[28]: 45					3	9[32]: 120
אֵלֶיךָ צוּרִי כַּפַּיִם שִׁטַחתִּי‎ ‎					Erev RH	41[31]: 108
אֵלְכָה וְאָשׁוּבָה‎ ‎			3 of TDR	63[30]: 83			2 of TDR	54[32]: 338
אֱלֹקַי בּוֹשְׁתִּי‎ ‎			2 of TDR	52[30]: 71
אֱלֹקִים אֲדֹנָי חֵילִי‎ ‎			4 of TDR	73[30]: 91	5 of TDR	90[31]: 206
אֱלֹקִים אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ‎ ‎	Erev RH	46[28]: 95	FG	46[30]: 66	2 of TDR	63[31]: 158	3 of TDR	63[32]: 376
אֱלֹקִים אֵין בִּלְתֶּךָ‎ ‎	Erev YK	120[28]: 353
אֱלֹקִים אַל דֳּמִי לְדָמִי‎ ‎	Erev RH	50[28]: 102
אֱלֹקִים אַל דֳּמִי לְדָמִי‎ ‎	Erev YK	124[28]: 353
אֱלֹקִים אַל דֳּמִי, אֵל נִקְשָׁר בִּשְׁמִי‎ ‎	5 of TDR	105[28]: 339
אֱלֹקִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גָּדוֹל נוֹדָעְתָּ‎ ‎	7	33[28]: 75			5	15[31]: 48	5 of TDR	78[32]: 441
אֱלֹקִים יִרְאֶה לּוֹ שֶׂה‎ ‎					Erev RH	30[31]: 80
אִם אָמְרִי אֶשְׁכְּחָה‎ ‎	3 of TDR	81[28]: 304	5	16[30]: 25
אִם אָפֵס רֹבַע הַקֵּן‎ ‎			FG	49[30]: 69	FG	52[31]: 137	4 of TDR	74[32]: 420
אִם עֲו‍ֹנֵינוּ עָנוּ בָנוּ‎ ‎	6	30[28]: 67			7	22[31]: 60
אִם עֲוֹנֵינוּ רַבּוּ לְהַגְדִּיל‎ ‎	2	9[28]: 32	1	3[30]: 9	2	5[31]: 31	2	5[32]: 98
אָמוֹן פִּתְחֵי תְשׁוּבָה‎ ‎					5 of TDR	96[31]: 216
אֱמוּנִים בְּנֵי מַאֲמִינִים‎ ‎	Erev RH	52[28]: 106
אָמְנָם אֲנַחְנוּ חָטָאנוּ וְהֶעֱוִינוּ‎ ‎					4 of TDR	79[31]: 184
אִמַּנְתָּ מֵאָז‎ ‎	FG	62[28]: 279	FG	45[30]: 65	FG	49[31]: 131	FG	45[32]: 303
אָמַרְנוּ נִגְזַרְנוּ לָנוּ‎ ‎	3 of TDR	84[28]: 309	4 of TDR	74[30]: 93			2 of TDR	56[32]: 344
אֱמֶת אַתָּה הוּא רִאשׁוֹן‎ ‎					Erev RH	31[31]: 83
אָנָּא הַבֵּט‎ ‎	Erev RH	58[28]: 119
אָנָּא הַבֵּט‎ ‎	Erev YK	130[28]: 360
אָנָּא עוֹרְרָה אַהֲבָתְךָ‎ ‎			Erev RH	26[30]: 36	Erev RH	27[31]: 70	Erev RH	25[32]: 218
אֱנוֹשׁ, בַּמֶּה יִצְדַּק‎ ‎	5 of TDR	101[28]: 333	3 of TDR	62[30]: 82
אֱנוֹשׁ, עַד דַּכָּא תָּשֵׁב‎ ‎	3 of TDR	82[28]: 305	3 of TDR	61[30]: 80
אֲנַחְנוּ הַחֹמֶר וְאַתָּה יוֹצְרֵנוּ‎ ‎			2 of TDR	54[30]: 73			7	20[32]: 193
אֲנִי בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ‎ ‎	2 of TDR	71[28]: 291					5 of TDR	77[32]: 437
אֲנִי יוֹם אִירָא אֵלֶיךָ אֶקְרָא‎ ‎	2	8[28]: 30	6	18[30]: 27	3	9[31]: 37	4	11[32]: 135
אֲנִי עַבְדְּךָ בֶּן אֲמָתֶךָ‎ ‎	Erev RH	53[28]: 108
אֲנִי קְרָאתִיךָ‎ ‎					4	11[31]: 41	2 of TDR	53[32]: 336
אֶנְקַת מְסַלְדֶיךָ‎ ‎					Erev RH	43[31]: 122
אַנְשֵׁי אֲמָנָה אָבָדוּ‎ ‎	1	2[28]: 11
אַנְשֵׁי אֲמָנָה עָבָרוּ‎ ‎	1	3[28]: 13
אָפֵס הוֹד כְּבוֹדָהּ‎ ‎	5 of TDR	102[28]: 335			7	21[31]: 59
אֶקְרָא אֶל אֱלֹקִים קוֹלִי‎ ‎	3 of TDR	85[28]: 311
אֶקְרָא בְשִׁמְךָ לְהַחֲזִיק בָּךְ‎ ‎			3	9[30]: 19	6	17[31]: 52
אַרְבָּעָה אבוֹת נְזִיקִין הֵן‎ ‎					4 of TDR	80[31]: 186
אָרִיד בְּשִׂיחִי‎ ‎	3	16[28]: 43			4 of TDR	85[31]: 198
אַרְיֵה בַיַּעַר דָּמִיתִי‎ ‎	3 of TDR	83[28]: 308	4	13[30]: 23	2 of TDR	62[31]: 156	7	21[32]: 196
אָרְכוּ הַיָּמִים‎ ‎	5	23[28]: 55					6	18[32]: 175
אַרְכָן וְקַצְרָן‎ ‎	6	28[28]: 63
אֲשַׁם בַּעֲלֵי אַשְׁמָה‎ ‎			2 of TDR	53[30]: 72
אֶשְׁמְרָה אֵלֶיךָ עֻזִּי‎ ‎	3 of TDR	88[28]: 314
אֶשְׁפּוֹךְ שִׂיחִי לְפָנֶיךָ צוּרִי‎ ‎	Erev RH	49[28]: 100
אֶשְׁפּוֹךְ שִׂיחִי לְפָנֶיךָ צוּרִי‎ ‎	Erev YK	123[28]: 353
אֵשֶׁת נְעוּרִים הָאֲהוּבָה‎ ‎			4 of TDR	69[30]: 88	4 of TDR	78[31]: 184
אֶת ה' בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ‎ ‎	2 of TDR	72[28]: 293	FG	43[30]: 63	FG	47[31]: 128	FG	43[32]: 298
אֶת הַקּוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב נוֹהֵם‎ ‎	Erev RH	51[28]: 105
אֶת הַקּוֹל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב נוֹהֵם‎ ‎	Erev YK	125[28]: 353
אֶת פְּנֵי מֵבִין יוֹדְעֵי דִּין דָּל‎ ‎	7	32[28]: 73
אֶת צוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי‎ ‎	FG	63[28]: 280
אַתָּה אֱלֹקַי מַלְכִּי מִקֶּדֶם‎ ‎			4 of TDR	70[30]: 88
אַתָּה הָרוֹאֶה בְּעֶלְבּוֹן נֶעֱלָבִים‎ ‎			5 of TDR	79[30]: 97
אַתָּה חֶלְקִי וְצוּר לְבָבִי‎ ‎	4 of TDR	95[28]: 325	5 of TDR	82[30]: 100	4 of TDR	81[31]: 189	5 of TDR	79[32]: 444
אַתָּה מִקֶּדֶם אֱלֹהֵינוּ‎ ‎	3	13[28]: 38					4 of TDR	70[32]: 406
בְּאַשְׁמֹרֶת הַבֹּקֶר קְרָאתִיךָ אֵל מְהֻלָּל‎ ‎	3 of TDR	87[28]: 313	4	14[30]: 24	2 of TDR	66[31]: 164	4	13[32]: 139
בֵּין כֶּסֶה לֶעָשׂוֹר‎ ‎			2 of TDR	57[30]: 76	4 of TDR	84[31]: 197	2 of TDR	57[32]: 349
בְּמוֹצָאֵי מְנוּחָה קִדַּמְנוּךָ תְּחִלָּה‎ ‎	1	5[28]: 17	1	5[30]: 10	1	4[31]: 16	1	4[32]: 78
בְּתוּלַת בַּת יְהוּדָה‎ ‎			6	19[30]: 28	7	20[31]: 57
גָּדוֹל עֲוֹנִי וְלַחֲטוֹא הוֹסַפְתִּי‎ ‎	2 of TDR	78[28]: 302
גְרוֹנִי נִחַר זוֹעֵק חָמָס‎ ‎					FG	59[31]: 150
ה' אֱלֹהֵי הַצְבָאוֹת‎ ‎	Erev RH	37[28]: 83	Erev RH	24[30]: 33	Erev RH	23[31]: 62	Erev RH	23[32]: 211
ה' אֱלֹקֵי הַצְבָאוֹת נוֹרָא בָעֶלְיוֹנִים‎ ‎	Erev YK	111[28]: 352
ה' אֱלֹקֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ ‎	7	34[28]: 76	4 of TDR	71[30]: 89	5 of TDR	88[31]: 203
ה' אֱלֹקַי רַבַּת צְרָרוּנִי‎ ‎	Erev RH	45[28]: 93
ה' אֱלֹקַי רַבַּת צְרָרוּנִי‎ ‎	Erev YK	119[28]: 353
ה' ה' אֵל רַחוּם‎ ‎	5	25[28]: 58	5 of TDR	85[30]: 103	5 of TDR	93[31]: 213	5 of TDR	82[32]: 456
ה' שׁוֹמְרִי לְבֵיתְךָ נָאֲוָה‎ ‎	5 of TDR	110[28]: 350
הוֹרֵיתָ דֶרֶךְ תְּשׁוּבָה‎ ‎	FG	67[28]: 287	FG	48[30]: 67	FG	53[31]: 139	FG	48[32]: 311
וּבְכֵן יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ‎ ‎	Erev RH	57[28]: 118
זְכוֹר בְּרִית אַבְרָהָם‎ ‎	Erev RH	56[28]: 117	Erev RH	40[30]: 51	Erev RH	42[31]: 111	Erev RH	40[32]: 267
זְכוֹר בְּרִית אַבְרָהָם‎ ‎	Erev YK	129[28]: 360
זְכוֹר בְּרִית אַבְרָהָם‎ ‎					FG	54[31]: 140	FG	50[32]: 318
זְכוֹר בְּרִית אַבְרָהָם‎ ‎					5 of TDR	95[31]: 216
חוֹקֵר הַכֹּל וְסוֹקֵר‎ ‎			6	20[30]: 29	4	13[31]: 44
חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ‎ ‎					5 of TDR	94[31]: 214
חַיִּים אֲרוּכִים‎ ‎					Erev RH	32[31]: 86	Erev RH	35[32]: 250
חָנֵּנוּ ה' חָנֵּנוּ‎ ‎			7	23[30]: 33			6	19[32]: 180
יוֹשֵׁב בְּגָבְהֵי מְרוֹמִים‎ ‎	2	11[28]: 34			3 of TDR	76[31]: 181
יוֹשֵׁב בְּסֵתֶר עֶלְיוֹן‎ ‎			4 of TDR	75[30]: 94	6	19[31]: 55	7	22[32]: 198
יַחְבִּיאֵנוּ צֵל יָדוֹ‎ ‎			5	17[30]: 26			3 of TDR	65[32]: 382
יַעֲזוֹב רָשָׁע נְתִיבוֹ‎ ‎					FG	57[31]: 147
יָקרוּ רֵעֶיךָ רַב מְחוֹלֵל‎ ‎					FG	55[31]: 142
יְרוּשָׁלַיִם אֶת ה'‎ ‎					3 of TDR	73[31]: 173
יֵרָצֶה צוֹם עַמְּךָ‎ ‎	Erev YK	127[28]: 355	Erev YK	90[30]: 106	Erev YK	100[31]: 220	Erev YK	87[32]: 479
יַשְׁמִיעֵנוּ סָלַחְתִּי‎ ‎			3 of TDR	66[30]: 85	5	16[31]: 50	4 of TDR	73[32]: 417
יִשְׂרָאֵל נוֹשַׁע בַּה' תְּשׁוּעַת עוֹלָמִים‎ ‎	3	15[28]: 42	2	8[30]: 18	2	7[31]: 34	3	10[32]: 122
יִשְׂרָאֵל עַמְּךָ תְּחִנָּה עוֹרְכִים‎ ‎	2	7[28]: 29			5	14[31]: 46	3	8[32]: 118
כִּי הִנֵּה כַּחוֹמֶר‎ ‎	5 of TDR	107[28]: 343
כִּסֵּא כוֹנֵן בְּחַסְדֶּךָ‎ ‎	FG	68[28]: 288
לְךָ אֲדֹנָי הַצְּדָקָה תִּלְבֹּשֶׁת‎ ‎	7	35[28]: 79
מַלְאֲכֵי רַחֲמִים מְשָׁרְתֵי עֶלְיוֹן‎ ‎	2	10[28]: 33			3	10[31]: 39	2	7[32]: 104
מֶלֶךְ אֶחָד יִהְיֶה‎ ‎			Erev RH	36[30]: 45	Erev RH	33[31]: 92
מֶלֶךְ מְלָכִים‎ ‎	2 of TDR	79[28]: 303	4 of TDR	77[30]: 96	4 of TDR	86[31]: 200	4 of TDR	75[32]: 428
מְפַלְטִי אֵלִי צוּרִי‎ ‎					Erev RH	39[31]: 104	Erev RH	39[32]: 263
מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹשִׁיעוֹ‎ ‎	2 of TDR	73[28]: 294	5 of TDR	87[30]: 105	5 of TDR	97[31]: 218	5 of TDR	84[32]: 467
מְרֻבִּים צָרְכֵי עַמְּךָ‎ ‎					Erev RH	26[31]: 68
עַם ה' חִזְקוּ וְנִתְחַזְּקָה‎ ‎	3 of TDR	80[28]: 304	5 of TDR	78[30]: 96	5 of TDR	87[31]: 201	5 of TDR	76[32]: 435
רוֹעֶה יִשְׂרָאֵל הַאֲזִינָה‎ ‎	2 of TDR	77[28]: 301
שֶׁבֶת הַכִּסֵּא‎ ‎	3 of TDR	89[28]: 316	3 of TDR	68[30]: 87	2 of TDR	68[31]: 167	3 of TDR	67[32]: 392
שׁוֹמַמְתִּי בְּרוֹב יְגוֹנִי‎ ‎	FG	65[28]: 284	Erev RH	35[30]: 44	3 of TDR	72[31]: 171	4 of TDR	71[32]: 411
שׁוֹפֵט כָּל הָאָרֶץ‎ ‎	Erev RH	54[28]: 112	Erev RH	38[30]: 49	Erev RH	40[31]: 107	Erev RH	38[32]: 261
שׁוֹשַׁנַּת וֶרֶד‎ ‎							4 of TDR	68[32]: 399
שַׁחַר קַמְתִּי‎ ‎	4 of TDR	97[28]: 328	3	11[30]: 21	3 of TDR	75[31]: 179	5	16[32]: 160
שִׁחַרְנוּךָ בִּקַּשְׁנוּךָ‎ ‎	4 of TDR	90[28]: 317	2 of TDR	51[30]: 71	3 of TDR	69[31]: 167	3 of TDR	60[32]: 367
שָׁלוֹם תִּשְׁפּוֹת לָנוּ‎ ‎					4 of TDR	82[31]: 192
שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בַּחֲנִינָה‎ ‎			Erev RH	37[30]: 47	Erev RH	38[31]: 101	Erev RH	36[32]: 256
שַׁעֲרֵי שָׁמַיִם‎ ‎	4 of TDR	99[28]: 331	2 of TDR	59[30]: 79	3 of TDR	77[31]: 182	2 of TDR	59[32]: 359
תָּא שְׁמַע מָרָא דְעָלְמָא‎ ‎	5 of TDR	109[28]: 346
תָּבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ שַׁוְעַת חִנּוּן‎ ‎	1	4[28]: 14	1	4[30]: 9	1	3[31]: 14	1	3[32]: 75
תּוֹחֶלֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל‎ ‎	2 of TDR	74[28]: 296	2 of TDR	56[30]: 75			5 of TDR	80[32]: 448
תּוֹרָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה‎ ‎	FG	69[28]: 289	FG	50[30]: 69	FG	58[31]: 148	FG	51[32]: 325
תַּחֲרוּת רֹגֶז הָנִיחַ‎ ‎			3 of TDR	65[30]: 84			4 of TDR	72[32]: 414
תַּעֲנִית צִבּוּר קָבְעוּ‎ ‎	6	29[28]: 65
תַּעֲרוֹג אֵלֶיךָ כְּאַיָּל‎ ‎	4	19[28]: 47	3	10[30]: 20	3 of TDR	71[31]: 169	6	17[32]: 172
תְּפִלָּה תִקַּח‎ ‎	Erev RH	59[28]: 120	Erev RH	41[30]: 59	Erev RH	44[31]: 123	Erev RH	41[32]: 278
תָּשׁוּב תְּרַחֲמֵנוּ‎ ‎	4 of TDR	94[28]: 324	FG	47[30]: 67	FG	51[31]: 135	FG	47[32]: 309
תְּשׁוּבָה חַשׁוּבָה קְדוּמָה‎ ‎			5 of TDR	81[30]: 99

References

1. Rabbi Raymond Apple. "Soul Searching in the Selichot". oztorah.com.
2. Machzor Shadal, Livorno 1856, Volume 2, Folio 1a.
3. "סליחות – ג'רבא ולוב- שפתי רננות -". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
4. היידנהיים, וולף; Cohen, Shalom ben Jacob (1 January 1833). "סדר סליחות מכול השנה כמנהג אשכנז". ג. להרברגר – via Google Books.
5. What Are Selichot?
6. See Jacob ben Asher, Tur OC 620.
7. Daniel Goldschimdt, Yom Kippur Machzor, page 13 if the introduction.
8. A practice very strongly criticized by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein in Aruch Hashulchan OC 620:1.
9. Rabbi Naftali Silberberg. "What are "Selichot" and when are they recited?". AskMoses.com.
10. "Selichot, Basic Questions & Answers". ou.org.
11. Daniel Goldschmidt, Kinot, pages 7–8 of the introduction.
12. See Machzor Kol Bo.
13. See the order of one such group here. See also the Shlomo Zalman Geiger, Divre Kehilot, who describes such a group that had once existed in Frankfurt.
14. Goldschmidt, Daniel (1970). Machzor leyamim hanoraim – Yom kippur (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Koren. p. xiii.
15. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
16. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
17. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
18. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
19. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
20. See this book which lists the differences between this rite and the Frankfurt rite above, and contains those piyyutim which do not appear in the Frankfrut rite.
21. Only one known copy of this printing survives, and it is found in the Bodleian Library. The National Library of Israel has a photocopy of the original, and it has been scanned and is available on Wikicommons
22. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
23. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
24. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
25. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
26. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
27. See this scan of the selichot according to this rite.
28. Machzor – Chelek rishon keminhag kk. ashkenazim (in Hebrew). Homburg. 1737.
29. Seder selichot mikol hashana keminhag ashkenaz (in Hebrew). Rödelheim: Lehrberger. 1833.
30. Selichot leyamim noraim keminhag Ungarn, Mehren, Behmen, Shlezien vekhol Gelilot (in Hebrew). Vienna: Schlesinger. 1929.
31. Seder selichot keminhag Lita, Reysin veZamut (in Hebrew). Vilna: Romm. 1879.
32. Seder selichot meforeshot Beer Yaakov keminhag Polin (in Hebrew). Jerusalem: Feldheim. 1995.
33. Different word order: אָדוֹן, כְּתִקַּח מוֹעֵד‎
34. Only in few congregations

External links

• Chabad.org: Selichot
• Jewish Virtual Library: Selichot
• Text of Selichot (Ashkenazi Lita rite) with English translation