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.”

Greeting on the High Holy Days

Q: What are we supposed to say on the High Holy Days to one another?  There are so many expressions!

A: On all holy days, including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it is permissible to say, “Gute yontif” (also Americanized as Good Yom Tov).  Yom Tov literally means “good day.”

More specific, less generic, are the following four expressions:

L’Shana Tovah Teekatayvu, “May you be inscribed for a good year.”

L’shanah tovah tikateyvu v’teihateimu, “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.”

K’teeva v’hatimah Tovah, “May you merit a good inscription and sealing.”  This is the phrase most frequently used as it can be used on Rosh Hashanah and the days leading up to and including Yom Kippur.

G’mar hatimah tovah, “May you have a favorable sealing.”  This is generally just reserved for the holy day of Yom Kippur as it reflects the final judgment.