Shalom friends,
We are now in the month of Elul (אֱלוּל), the twelfth and last month of the Hebrew calendar. Therefore, this month is time for self-examination and spiritual preparations leading up to the New Year. During this month, Jewish people begin to conduct special prayers for forgiveness called Slixot (סְלִיחוֹת). The Selixot services help worshipers direct their hearts and minds to the process of repentance. Worshipers begin to examine their deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from G-d, and promising to improve their behavior in the New Year.
The Slixot services used to be held very late at night, just before morning. Nowadays, they are conducted a bit later, so worshipers will not be sleep deprived during this month. The Slixot services consist of several prayers, verses, and liturgy (פִּיּוּט), related to repentance, forgiveness, and mercy. After the Slixot and the Morning Prayers (שַׁחֲרִית, shaxarit), it is custom to blow the Shofar to awaken people to pray for forgiveness before the New Year and Yom Kippur.
According to the Torah interpretations, Moses climbed up the Sinai Mountain on the first day of Elul and stayed there for 40 days, praying for G-d’s mercy after the sin of the golden calf. He came down on Yom Kippur with the second Tables of the Covenant.

A fundamental part of the selixot service is the repeated recitation of the "Thirteen Attributes" of G-d’s mercy as were revealed to Moses by G-d, after the sin of the golden calf:

יְהוָה יְהוָה, אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן--אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם, וְרַב-חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת.
נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים, נֹשֵׂא עָו‍ֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה;  וְנַקֵּה (שמות, ל"ד ו-ז)

The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth;
Keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; who cleanses (Exodus 34:6-7)

It is customary to tour the Jewish Orthodox neighborhoods in Jerusalem and other cities to experience the special atmosphere of this time of the year. The Sepharadic begin their Slixot services in the beginning of Elul, whereas the Ashkenazi Jews begin their Slixot services four days (not including Shabbat) before Rosh Hashana (ראש השנה, New Year). There are also different services among Sepharadi and Ashkenazi Jews, but the intention is the same.
A very ancient, famous and moving Piyut is called “Adon Haslixot” (אָדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת, Ruler of Forgiveness), which is recited by Sephardic worshipers throughout the month of Elul. In this Piyut, a person asks for mercy and forgiveness despite his sins. It describes the full spectrum of G-ds attributes in Alphabetical order, reminding us that G-d is filled with Justice on the one hand, and with love and compassion, on the other hand. The human being is grateful and joyful for G-d’s forgiveness and for the gift of being able to start all over again each year. (You can read the complete prayer in Hebrew and English here.)

Slixot at the Western Wall.
Picture by Dr. Avishay Taycher

בִּבְרָכָה,
Bivraxa,
With Blessings,

שִׁירָה כֹּהֵן-רֶגֶב
Shira Cohen-Regev
The HebrewOnline Team