Selichot

Q: Why do we observe selichot a t midnight?

A:  Selichot is a special sacred prayer that is a prelude to the High Holy Days.  While other observances are constructed around daylight hours or immediately after the sun has set, this one is the exception.  Selichot.

Although there are the times of the year when studies conducted throughout the night, Shavuot for example, Selichot is the only service when we stay up, or get up, for a brief service the Saturday evening proceeding Rosh Hashanah.

Selichot is not truly midnight. The midpoint of the night actually comes around 1 AM. The fact is we simply rise at night to say special penitential prayers prior to the advent of the High Holy Days. When we are least apt to become distracted by outside noises or physical responsibilities we rankle our customary habits and begin an earnest quest for repentance.

The idea of rising at midnight is taken from Psalms where it is reported that David said, “At midnight I rise to praise you.”