From the days preceding Rosh Hashana until Yom Kippur we are accustomed to say selichos. The custom in the ashkenazic community is to start the Motzei Shabbos preceding Rosh Hashana. If in the event Rosh Hashana falls on Sunday or Monday, we start from the previous Motzei Shabbos. (Sefardim start from Rosh Chodesh). The saying of selichos serves a dual purpose. It is meant to bring Hashem to have extra mercy on us during the days of awe, and also to cause us to repent.
When should selichos be recited? There are two answers given. Rambam in hilchos teshuva 3:5 says to wake up before the start of the day to recite selichos until daytime and this is the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch 581:1. According to the GR”A the best time is after midnight. The are specific times of mercy. According to kabbalah, our request for mercy at these times will not be returned empty. Some communities have the custom to recite selichos before midnight. Mateh Ephraim 581:20 speaks very strongly against this minhag as does the Magen Avraham 565:5 and Mishna Berurah 565:12. Mishna Berurah says that it is forbidden to say the 13 attributes of mercy before midnight, except on Yom Kippur. As for the source of this custom, see Mishmeres Shalom 41:4 who brings that although the best time to say selichos is after midnight or before the morning, there is however an old custom that it could be recited before midnight. Rav Moshe Feinstein explains (O.H. 2:105) that although saying the 13 attributes of mercy at this time will not have the promise that it will not be returned empty, it is however not worse than a regular teffilah. It is clear from Rav Moshe also that is preferable to say selichos at the other suggested times.

Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh HymanMir Yeshiva, Jerusalem- [email protected]

Shabbat Shalom