At last, the Hebrew month of Elul has arrived, the auspicious start of the High Holidays, when many Jews begin saying the penitential prayers of Selichot. For Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews, the holiday began on the second day of Elul (Aug. 26) and continues through the month of Elul; for Ashkenazi Jews, this year it takes place the Saturday night preceding Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 13).

Selichot, which means “forgiveness,” is arguably one of the most spiritually and emotionally inspiring services of the Jewish year, a time when we express contrition to God for our mistakes or failures during the past 12 months. But for many congregations, particularly in North America, it can be one of the least attended of the holiday services.

Twentieth-century rabbinical scholars had an explanation for why

See Full Page