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Part 1 of 7
During the month-long period of Selihoth, Jews
seek atonement for their sins and ask for forgiveness, says RABBI EZEKIEL ISAAC MALEKAR
seek atonement for their sins and ask for forgiveness, says RABBI EZEKIEL ISAAC MALEKAR
Part 2 of 7
jews observe a month-long fast during Selihoth, which begins after sunset before Rosh Hashanah, the first Jewish New Year, and concludes with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. ‘Selihoth’ means ‘forgiveness for sins’ and penitents spend the days in prayer and confession of sins.They don’t drink even a drop of water and eat food only once a day after sunset.The faithful remember God’s 13 attributes of mercy. Fasting during Selihoth is a spiritual preparation for partaking of a sacred meal— a means of providing new vitality during periods of human or natural infertility.
Part 3 of 7
The purpose of fasting in Judaism are various.One is the achievement of atonement for sins and omissions in divine services. It’s a widely attested function for the community as
well as for individuals; fasting is undertaken to avert or terminate a calamity by eliciting God’s compassion. For example, God mitigated Ahab’s punishment because he fasted and humbled himself (I Kings 29:27-29).King David
fasted in the hope that ‘the Lord will be gracious to me and the body will live.’Several other passages indicate the use of fasting for winning divine forgiveness.Fasting is an act of penance, a ritual expression of remorse, submission and supplication.
well as for individuals; fasting is undertaken to avert or terminate a calamity by eliciting God’s compassion. For example, God mitigated Ahab’s punishment because he fasted and humbled himself (I Kings 29:27-29).King David
fasted in the hope that ‘the Lord will be gracious to me and the body will live.’Several other passages indicate the use of fasting for winning divine forgiveness.Fasting is an act of penance, a ritual expression of remorse, submission and supplication.
Part 4 of 7
Back then, when a human or natural calamity threatened or struck a whole community,public fasts were proclaimed.The purpose of fasts during wartime was to seek God’s direct intervention (Samuel 7:9) or advice transmitted
through an oracle (Judge 20:26-28). Fasting served as a means of supplicating God to end a famine caused by a plague of locusts (Joel 1:14,3:12,15) and to alleviate the oppression of foreign rule (Neh 9:1).As a preventive or internecessary measure,fasting was used to avert the threat of divine punishment.Fasting means complete abstinence from water, food and other worldly activities including sex.
through an oracle (Judge 20:26-28). Fasting served as a means of supplicating God to end a famine caused by a plague of locusts (Joel 1:14,3:12,15) and to alleviate the oppression of foreign rule (Neh 9:1).As a preventive or internecessary measure,fasting was used to avert the threat of divine punishment.Fasting means complete abstinence from water, food and other worldly activities including sex.
Part 5 of 7
During Selihoth, prayers are traditionally recited before dawn and attune the spirit for New Year’s Day, the day of God’s tribunal for remembrance and judgement of man’s work on earth.They are our responses in prayer to the Prophet’s solemn call:‘Prepare to meet thy God, O! Israel’.The rabbis teach that the world is judged at four periods of the year — in the spring at Passover,when we pray for the early harvest; in the summer at Shabuoth,when we pray for the ripening of fruits; in the autumn at Succoth, when we pray for the life-giving “former rains,”and on Rosh Hashanah,the Day of Remembrance and reckoning for the harvest of man’s deeds,on which,judgement is sealed nine days later on the Day of Atonement.
Part 6 of 7
The theme of the Day of Remembrance— Yom Hazikkaron — and Day of Judgement — Yom Hadin — is sounded for nations and for individuals. Jews come before God, with the
prayer that he will temper his judgement of his creatures with mercy. On this day, the Book of Life is opened in the heavenly court,and Jews begin a new year,yearning for the blessings of the Amidah. This is a silent prayer recited in devotion through the subconscious mind along
with other prayers.The Jews begin the Selihoth with Ashrei:‘Happy are they who dwell in my house for ever they shall praise; happy are the people who are so situated.
prayer that he will temper his judgement of his creatures with mercy. On this day, the Book of Life is opened in the heavenly court,and Jews begin a new year,yearning for the blessings of the Amidah. This is a silent prayer recited in devotion through the subconscious mind along
with other prayers.The Jews begin the Selihoth with Ashrei:‘Happy are they who dwell in my house for ever they shall praise; happy are the people who are so situated.
Part 7 of 7
Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.’These two opening sentences are appended to the 145th psalm. Jews say the 145th psalm with these two sentences three times a day.According to the psalm,we are to imitate God.Just as God clothes the naked and feeds the hungry and upholds those who fall,we should do the same thing. Just as God is kind and compassionate,so we should be kind and compassionate.The keynote to the Selihoth prayer is the phrase Adoshem Adoshem El
Rachum, which means,‘The Lord, is a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness and truth,giving mercy to thousands of generations forgiving iniquity,transgression and sin and acquitting all those who truly repent.
Rachum, which means,‘The Lord, is a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness and truth,giving mercy to thousands of generations forgiving iniquity,transgression and sin and acquitting all those who truly repent.
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