Complete Hilchos Slichos

By Rabbi Tzvi Yaakov Stein

• The י״ג מדות can’t be said without concentration.

• It’s better to say less Slichos with more concentration than more Slichos with less concentration.

• It’s better to say Slichos at your own pace and then skip to Kel Melech Yoshev in order to say it with a Minyan.

• There must be a minyan before starting “Ashrei”.

• If the minyan is up to י״ג מדות, skip to where they’re up to in order to say י״ג מדות with a minyan.

• If you’re in middle of אל מלך יושב and the minyan is saying י״ג מדות, skip to י״ג מדות

• You can start saying the י״ג מדות as long as the Minyan is still saying any part of the י״ג מדות.

• It’s best to stand up for Slichos.

• If it’s difficult then stand up just for י״ג מדות and קל מלך יושב and vidui.

• At the end of קל מלך יושב, make sure to make a slight pause between the words בשם and ‘ה.

• When saying the י״ג מדות, there should be a slight pause between ‘ה and ‘ה.

• The main part of the Slichos are the few pesukim that are said before each slicha.

• Slichos that don’t start with the name of Hashem start with אלוקינו ואלקי אבותינו.

• Many don’t say כרחם אב על בנים as is printed in most siddurim.

• Most siddurim have אשמנו three times. However many only say one אשמנו based on the opinions of the Gra and Arizal.

• Even though we normally don’t say tachnun at night, for Slichos it’s allowed.

• Many have the minhag not to say מכניסי רחמים in tachnun because it sounds like we’re davening to the angels and not to Hashem.

• If one says Slichos without a minyan, only the י״ג מדות and words in Aramaic should not be said.

• Aramaic can’t be said because angels can’t understand it and without a minyan angels are necessary to carry up the tefilos.

• The י״ג מדות can be said alone if it’s read with the same tune as if reading from the Torah. However, make sure to finish the entire passuk until after the words ועל רבעים so as not to split up a passuk.

• It’s preferable to say Tachnun together with a minyan.

For questions/comments please email [email protected]

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