Selichos
Before Rosh Hashanah, it is our custom to say Selichos, which are special prayers for forgiveness. The ideal time for this is very early in the morning, before sunrise, when it’s a special time for prayers to be accepted. Sephardim start Selichot from the first day of Elul, and Ashkenazim start the week of or the week before Rosh Hashanah. Ashkenazim blow shofar after the morning prayers during the entire month of Elul. These customs continue until Yom Kippur.
Rosh Hashanah
- On Rosh Hashanah, men must hear the blowing of the shofar. They must at least hear the first thirty blows, but our custom is to hear a full hundred.
- We don’t blow shofar on Shabbat.
…to be continued…