From the Rav’s Desk: Until what time may Selichos be recited?

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  1. Question: [Sunday 21st Elul 5781]

I work an early morning shift and don’t have the time to say Selichos then, barely having time to Daven Shacharis. My question is whether I can still say it in the afternoon, after work, or if it must be said in the morning.

 

Answer:

If one could not say Selichos in the morning before Shacharis, it may be said anytime during the day, up until nightfall. A good time to make it up is prior to Mincha.

Explanation: Although Selichos is ideally to be recited in the morning prior to Shacharis, and its most ideal time is while it is still night by Ashmuros Haboker, nonetheless, it may also be said in the afternoon. So is understood from the fact that the 13 attributes of mercy are recited also by Mincha time and from the fact that there are times of the year that we even initially recite Selichos in the afternoon such as on, Erev Rosh Chodesh, in which case many communities recite Selichos by Mincha.

Sources: Yechaveh Daas 1:46; Piskeiy Teshuvos 581:2; See Michaber and Rama 581:1; M”A 417:3; M”B 417:4; Mateh Efrayim 581:11; Sefer Haminhagim p. 114 [English Edition].

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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