Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Reciting S'lichot alone

Hi,

We have mentioned the practice of reciting Selichot prayers in the days leading up to Rosh haShanah and Yom Kippur. One may recite these prayers in private, but there is an advantage to saying them with a Minyan (quorum). Prayer within a group is generally better than private prayer - one can then invoke the merit of the entire group, on one's own behalf.

One who is praying alone skips the portions of Selichot which list the 13 Divine attributes of mercy; these are meant to be invoked as a prayer only within a quorum. Traditionally, one who is praying alone also omits the Aramaic prayers which appear at the end of the S'lichot prayers.

(Mishneh Berurah 581:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

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