Even the days of Selichot before Rosh HaShanah are not days of judgment – just the opposite, they are days of mercy and desire, the last set of forty days when Moshe Rabbeinu was on the mountain and the Holy One showed him favour. It is only on Rosh HaShanah that the judgment begins… Moreover, the Ten Days of Repentance are not called “days of judgment”. Just the opposite, they are days of mercy, during which Hashem avails Godself to every individual. Only Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are “days of judgment”… Nodah B’Yehuda I Orach Chaim 32:3
The Jewish calendar gives us many opportunities to get ready for the new year. Reciting Psalm 27, a declaration of faith, each day of Elul is one practice. Another practice is reciting special prayers on the Saturday evening before Rosh Hashana, known as Selichot.
If Rosh Hashana feels like it’s fast approaching and you’d like to slow down and begin turning towards the new year, come to AARC’s second annual Selichot Service on Saturday September 1; we’ll celebrate Havdallah together and then learn some new tunes to carry us into the High Holiday season.
Selichot Service Saturday, September 1
8pm
each bring a candle (we’ll have extras if you forget)Touchstone Common House(yellow building at the front right behind the Touchstone sign)560 Little Lake Drive (off Jackson Rd between Wagner and Zeeb)please park on the street