Page 6 - Chayei Adam LAYOUT sivan 5782

Chayei Adam - K’lal 138 - The Laws of Selichos and Erev Rosh Hashana

Torah study. In these times however, we are weak, especially those who [spend
their days] studying Torah and certainly those who barely have bread to eat, and
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it is better to eat a little and learn double.
]2[ Since they are days of teshuva, in many places it is the custom to wake up
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early the entire month of Elul to say selichos before daybreak. However, our
custom is not to, except for the last four days before Rosh Hashana since it is the
custom of people who fast during aseres yemei teshuva to begin fasting four days
before; because fasting on both days of Rosh Hashana, on Shabbos Teshuva and
erev Yom Kippur is not possible, they fast four days beforehand to make them
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up. Therefore, we too arise early four days before. However when Rosh Hashana
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is on Monday or Tuesday, they need to begin during the previous week, and so
that there should be a set day every year, our custom is to arise from Sunday of
the previous week. The prevalent custom is to fast at least on the first day of
selichos. Another reason why selichos was fixed for [a minimum of] four days is
because we find that korbanos need to be examined for four days before being
offered, and although with regards to every other korban in parshas Pinchas it
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says “you shall bring an olah,” when it comes to Rosh Hashana it says “and you

םדו רשב
...a man to his friend and gifts to the poor 15. The Geonim instituted the recital of
(Esther 9:22). selichos during the aseres yemei teshuva, but
many had the custom to begin at the
14. Chayei Adam’s note: We have beginning of Elul which is indeed the custom
explained this at length in Hilchos Taanis. of most Sefardim. Others would begin just
See 132:42 where the Chayei Adam writes before Rosh Hashana which is the custom of
that a Torah scholar should not fast even if he Ashkenazim, as the Chayei Adam goes on to
transgressed severe prohibitions but rather explain (Rosh at the end of Meseches Rosh
should cry from the depths of his heart and Hashana).
study Torah more than usual, as Torah is like a
purifying mikva and is compared to fire. 16. Since this is an auspicious time for
Nevertheless, he should limit physical one’s prayers to be answered. Although
enjoyment and eat only what he needs to be Chazal (see Berachos 3a and Avodah Zara 3b)
strong and healthy. tell us that the entire last third of the night is

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