About

Selichot, סְלִיחוֹת, is a series of Jewish liturgical prayers that are sung during the holy month of Elul. In the Sephardic tradition, we sing these songs every night of Elul between midnight and dawn - some choose to recite in the late night time and others choose in the early morning. Selichot in Hebrew means forgiveness. This practice of singing songs of forgiveness is meant to awaken the heart to support our process of spiritual accountability. 

Elul is a month of preparation for the High Holiday season. It is a time of introspection, reflection and transformation. The central concept is Teshuva, meaning return in Hebrew. This return is about our return to God - learning how to examine ourselves and invest in spiritual accountability. We ask, where did our thoughts, behaviors and actions miss the mark this year? How can we acknowledge impact and engage in practices of forgiveness so we can return to the Divine Flow of Life?

My grandfather was a Chazan, a spiritual singer in the Aleppo-Jerusalemite tradition. While he passed away when I was young, his spirit still lives in me. Years ago, I found tapes of his singing and tapes of him learning how to recite these prayers. The recordings on this page are from the tapes I have found in this collection. The recordings on this page are not the full service but some of the core and my personal favorite parts of it. The translation is largely taken from Sefaria with small edits by me. One day, I hope to record an album of me singing these prayers. 

You are invited to engage with these songs through reading the poetry, learning the tunes, and/or meditating while listening to the recordings.

May this season awaken us towards greater healing and liberation, both personal and collective.

Opening

Ben Adam   בֶּן אָדָם

Man, Woman, Person! Why do you sleep? Rise up and voice your pleas! Pour out your words, seek forgiveness from the Master of All. Wash yourself clean, do not wait For many days to go by. Quickly, seek help From the One who dwells beyond, within. Flee from all wrongdoings And fear their unintended consequences. God, please hear the prayers of Israel Who faithfully call on Your Name. You are the Source of all that is right; And we are truly humbled. Rise up, be strong and take courage So you may confess your failings! Seek God with reverence and find atonement. In this realm of the spirit Wonders never cease. Every word that is said Will be received. The Compassionate One will have compassion on us As parents do toward their children. You are the Source of all that is right; And we are truly humbled.

Interpreted and translated by Rabbi Nancy Flam

L'maancha   לְמַעַנְךָ

For Your sake, my God – Desire the people that awake early, for You to beseech Your face during the morning stand. God, listen and act, do not delay. 

For Your sake, my God – Raise up from the depths of the sea, those sated with hemlock and wormwood in the house of their wanderings and captivity; see their strain and their affliction and do not turn to their rebellion; bend the ear to their call in the morning prayers. God, listen and act, do not delay. 

For Your sake, my God – And perform a goodly sign and grace sad souls, thirsting for waters of salvation; gather dispersed ones, strewn around all the corners, whose skin, from many troubles, is very black. God, listen and act, do not delay. 

For Your sake, my God – Show Your mercy, and from the abode of Your name, listen to the voice of Your people who endure Your anger, Your fury and Your rage; from enduring Your punishments, their strength is very faint. God, listen and act, do not delay. 

For Your sake, my God – Have mercy on Your indigent ones and gladden them from their grief; guide them in Your counsel; and please spare and have mercy upon them from their coming from the belly and bursting out from the womb. God, listen and act, do not delay. 

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי. דְּלֵה מִמְּצֻלוֹת יָם. שְׂבֵעֵי רוֹשׁ וְלַעַן. בְּבֵית נוֹדָם וְשִׁבְיָם. וְשׁוּר לַחְצָם וְעָנְיָם. וְאַל תֵּפֶן לְמֶרְיָם. וְהַט אֹזֶן לְשַׁוְעָם. בִּתְפִלַּת הַשַּׁחַר: אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר: 

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי. וַעֲשֵׂה לְטוֹבָה אוֹת. וְחוֹן נְפָשׁוֹת עֲצוּבוֹת. לְמֵי יֶשַׁע צְמֵאוֹת. וְקַבֵּץ נִדָּחִים. פְּזוּרִים בְּכָל פֵּאוֹת. אֲשֶׁר מֵרֹב תְּלָאוֹת. עוֹרָם מְאֹד שָׁחַר: אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר: 

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי. יֶהֱמוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ. וּמִמְּעוֹן שָׁמֶיךָ. שְׁמַע קוֹל עַמֶּךָ. סוֹבְלֵי אַפְּךָ. קִצְפְּךָ וְזַעֲמֶךָ. וּמִנְּשׂוֹא אֵימֶיךָ. לִבָּם מְאֹד סְחַרְחַר: אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר: 

לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי. דַּלֶּיךָ תְּרַחֵם. וְשַׂמְּחֵם מִיגוֹנָם. וּבַעֲצָתְךָ תַנְחֵם. וְהַפְלֵא חֲסָדֶיךָ. וְחוּסָה נָּא וְרַחֵם. עֲמוּסִים מִבֶּטֶן וּמֵרֶחֶם מִשְׁחָר. אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר: 

אֲדֹנָי, שְׁמָעָה. אֲדֹנָי, סְלָחָה. אֲדֹנָי הַקְשִׁיבָה וַעֲשֵׂה אַל תְּאַחַר, לְמַעַנְךָ אֱלֹהַי כִּי שִׁמְךָ נִקְרָא עַל עִירְךָ וְעַל עַמֶּךָ: הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יהוה אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה. חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם

God our King   אֵל מֶלֶךְ

God, King, You occupy a throne built on mercy. Your deeds reflect Your loving-kindness. You forgive Your people’s iniquities— Putting each aside, one by one. You expand forgiveness for the sinner, and pardon for the transgressor. Your righteousness extends to all creatures of flesh and spirit; You do not assign a full measure of punishment to those who err. God, You taught us that when in need of atonement, we are to recite Your thirteen attributes of mercy. Thus, today we ask You to remember us for our well-being. 

Remember: take note of Your covenant with us, which enumerates those thirteen attributes. You revealed all this to Your humble servant Moses centuries ago, as is recorded in Scripture: 

And the Lord had descended in a cloud; He stood with Moses there and proclaimed the Lord’s name. The Lord passed before Moses and said : The Lord, the Lord, God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, trusting in loving-kindness and truth; preserving His grace for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and cleansing from sin.

Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your own.

Translation by Rabbi Morton M. Leifman

אֵל מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רַחֲמִים וּמִתְנַהֵג בַּחֲסִידוּת. מוֹחֵל עֲוֹנוֹת עַמּוֹ מַעֲבִיר רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן. מַרְבֶּה מְחִילָה לַחַטָּאִים. וּסְלִיחָה לַפּוֹשְׁעִים. עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקוֹת עִם כָּל בָּשָׂר וְרוּחַ. לֹא כְרָעָתָם לָהֶם גּוֹמֵל. אֵל הוֹרֵתָנוּ לוֹמַר מִדּוֹת שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. זְכֹר לָנוּ הַיּוֹם בְּרִית שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוֹדַעְתָּ לֶעָנָו מִקֶּדֶם. וְכֵן כָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתָךְ: וַיֵּרֶד יהוה בֶּעָנָן וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם. וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם, יהוה. וְשָׁם נֶאֱמַר: 

וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא, יְהֹוָה | יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן, אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת: נֹצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה, וְנַקֵּה:

וְסָלַחְתָּ לַעֲוֹנֵנוּ וּלְחַטָּאתֵנוּ וּנְחַלְתָּנוּ:

For our God   לַאדֹנָי

Mercy and forgiveness is God’s, for we have sinned against God. 

Mercy and forgiveness is God’s, for we have rebelled against God. 

Please do not place the sin upon us, about which we have been foolish and have sinned. 

We have sinned, our Rock; forgive us, our Maker.

לַאדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִיחוֹת, כִּי חָטָאנוּ לוֹ: 

לַאדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ הָרַחֲמִים וְהַסְּלִחוֹת, כִּי מָרַדְנוּ בּוֹ: 

אַל נָא תָשֵׁת עָלֵינוּ חַטָּאת, אֲשֶׁר נוֹאַלְנוּ וַאֲשֶׁר חָטָאנוּ: 

חָטָאנוּ צוּרֵנוּ. סְלַח לָנוּ יוֹצְרֵנוּ:

Listen God   שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

Listen Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. 

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יהוה אֶחָד: 

The Lord is God   יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים

The Lord is God, the Lord is God.

The Lord is God, the Lord is God.

יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים:

יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים:

God's Messengers   אֶרְאֵלֵי מַעְלָה

God’s messengers above say, “The Lord is our Master.” The treasured chosen ones answer and say, “The Lord is God, the Lord is God.” 

The spheres above say, “The Lord is our Master.” The treasured regimented ones answer and say, “The Lord is God, the Lord is God.” 

The multitudes above say, “The Lord is our Master.” Israel, in their distress and exile, answer and say, “The Lord is God, the Lord is God.”

אֶרְאֵלֵי מַעְלָה. אוֹמְרִים יהוה אֲדוֹנֵנוּ. בְּחִירֵי סְגֻלָּה. עוֹנִים וְאוֹמְרִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים: 

גַּלְגַּלֵּי מַעְלָה. אוֹמְרִים יהוה אֲדוֹנֵנוּ. דְּגוּלֵי סְגֻלָּה. עוֹנִים וְאוֹמְרִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים: 

הֲמוֹנֵי מַעְלָה. אוֹמְרִים יהוה אֲדוֹנֵנוּ. יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּצָרָתָם וּבְגָלוּתָם עוֹנִים וְאוֹמְרִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים. יהוה הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים:

God Reigns  יהוה מֶלֶךְ

The Lord reigns, the Lord reigned, the Lord will reign forever and ever.

יהוה מֶלֶךְ. יהוה מָלָךְ. יהוה יִמְלֹךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

Answer Us  עֲנֵנוּ אָבִינוּ

Answer us, our Father, answer us; Answer us, our Creator, answer us; Answer us, our Redeemer, answer us; Answer us, our Seeker, answer us; Answer us, Majesty and Glory, answer us; Answer us, Ancient One of consolations, answer us; Answer us, Pure and Straight, answer us; Answer us, the Living and Existing, answer us; Answer us, [the One with] Pure Eyes, answer us; Answer us, [the One who] Sits in the skies, answer us; Answer us, Tremendous Strength, answer us; Answer us, God who does not desire evil, answer us; Answer us, King of the kings of kings, answer us; Answer us, Awesome and Sublime, answer us; Answer us, Supporter of the falling, answer us; Answer us, Helper of the destitute, answer us; Answer us, Redeemer and Rescuer, answer us; Answer us.

Answer Us, God of Abraham  עֲנֵנוּ אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם

Master of Pardons אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת

Lord of forgiveness, knower of thoughts Revealer of the Concealed, Speak of truths

We have sinned before You, Have mercy upon us

Glorious in wonders, Veteran in comforts Remembers ancestral covenant,Knower of Inner Thoughts

We have sinned before You, Have mercy upon us

Good and beneficent to humanity, Knowing all hidden things, Overcomes sins, Clothed in righteousness

We have sinned before You, Have mercy upon us

Full of purities, Awesome in praises Forgiving of sins,Answerer in time of trouble

We have sinned before You, Have mercy upon us

Bridger of deliverance, Seer of futures Calling to the generations, Rider of clouds Hearer of Prayer, Perfect in knowledge We have sinned before You, Have mercy upon us.

God, listen to your destitute ones יָהּ שְׁמַע אֶבְיוֹנֶיךָ 

God, listen to your destitute ones seeking Your presence. Our Father, to Your children do not hide Your ears. 

Lord, the nation from the depths is calling due to great troubles. Do not send them away empty today from in front of You. 

Their evil and iniquity erase, and their great wantonness. But if You will not do it for their sake; do it, my Rock, for Your sake. 

And erase today their debt, and accept like a gift their utterances. And prepare their hearts to You; but also have Your ears listen. 

The tears of their faces answer, and gather the erring flock. And establish a shepherd for Yourself, and remember for the good Your flock. 

[For] the ones that walk on a proper path, announce today forgiveness. And in the morning prayer, offer them Your grace.

יָהּ שְׁמַע אֶבְיוֹנֶיךָ. הַמְחַלִּים פָּנֶיךָ. אָבִינוּ לְבָנֶיךָ. אַל תַּעְלֵם אָזְנֶיךָ.

יָהּ עַם מִמַּעֲמַקִּים. יִקְרְאוּ מֵרֹב מְצוּקִים. אַל נָא תְשִׁיבֵם רֵקִים. הַיּוֹם מִלְּפָנֶיךָ: 

הַוּוֹתָם וַעֲוֹנָם. מְחֵה וְרֻבֵּי זְדוֹנָם. וְאִם לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה לְמַעֲנָם. עֲשֵׂה צוּרִי לְמַעֲנֶךָ: 

וּמְחֵה הַיּוֹם חוֹבָם. וּרְצֵה כְּמוֹ שַׁי נִיבָם. וּלְךָ תָּכִין לִבָּם. וְגַם תַּקְשִׁיב אָזְנֶךָ: 

דִּמְעַת פְּנֵיהֶם תִּשְׁעֶה. וְתֶאֱסֹף עֵדֶר תּוֹעֶה. וְתָקִים לְךָ רוֹעֶה. וּפְקֹד בְּטוֹב צֹאנֶךָ: 

הוֹלְכֵי בְּדֶרֶךְ נְכוֹחָה. תְּבַשְֹּרֵם הַיּוֹם סְלִיחָה. וּבִתְפִלַּת הַשַּׁחַר. הַמְצִיאֵם חִנֶּךָ:

In my remembering upon my bed בְּזָכְרִי עַל מִשְׁכָּבִי

In my remembering upon my bed, the wantonness of my heart and its faults, I will get up and go to the House of my God and His footstool. And I will say in raising my eye, in my supplications, to His skies, "Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His compassion is great" (II Samuel 24:14). 

You, my God, are the Rock of my strength, my Refuge in my distress. With You is my anticipation and hope, my Acclamation in my exile. To You are all the requests of my heart, and all my desire is in front of You. Redeem a servant calling to You from the hand of his oppressors and subjugators. 

Answer me, Lord, answer me, in my calling from the straits. And it will be known among the nations that Your hand is not short. And do not belittle the suffering of the poor one – yelling out from the blow of the foe – whose rebellious acts he concedes, and confesses about [the deeds of] his youth. 

What can he complain and say, what can he speak and justify himself – a physical creature who will return his body like fine dirt. What can man give You if he does evil or if he does good? Are not his words and his deeds written in the book of his days? 

At mid- (another textual variant: While still) night, they get up for You, Your praising servants. The merit of the forefathers remember for them, and do not turn to their bad deeds. Acquire Your congregation as in days past; Holy One of Jacob, redeem them. And be raised, the God who makes peace in His upper realms. 

Merciful and Gracious One, we have sinned before You, have mercy upon us and save us.

בְּזָכְרִי עַל מִשְׁכָּבִי, זְדוֹן לִבִּי וַאֲשָׁמָיו. אָקוּמָה וְאָבוֹאָה, אֶל בֵּית אֱלֹהַי וַהֲדוֹמָיו. וָאֹמַר בְּנָשְׂאִי עַיִן, בְּתַחֲנוּנַי אֱלֵי שָׁמָיו. נִפְּלָה נָּא בְּיַד יהוה כִּי רַבִּים רַחֲמָיו: 

לְךָ אֵלִי צוּר חֵילִי, מְנוּסָתִי בְּצָרָתִי. בְּךָ שִׂבְרִי וְתִקְוָתִי, אֱיָלוּתִי בְּגָלוּתִי. לְךָ כָּל מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבִּי, וְנֶגְדְּךָ כָּל תַּאֲוָתִי. פְּדֵה עֶבֶד לְךָ צוֹעֵק, מִיַּד רוֹדָיו וְקָמָיו: 

עֲנֵנִי יהוה עֲנֵנִי, בְּקָרְאִי מִן הַמֵּצַר. וְיִוָּדַע בָּעַמִּים, כִּי יָדְךָ לֹא תִקְצַר. וְאַל תִּבְזֶה עֱנוּת עָנִי, צוֹעֵק מִתִּגְרַת צַר. אֲשֶׁר פְּשָׁעָיו לְךָ מוֹדֶה, וּמִתְוַדֶּה עַל עֲלוּמָיו: 

מַה יִּתְאוֹנֵן וְיֹאמַר, מַה יְּדַבֵּר וְיִצְטַדָּק. יְצִיר חֹמֶר אֲשֶׁר תָּשׁוּב, גְּוִיָּתוֹ כְּאָבָק דַּק. מַה יִּתֵּן לְךָ הָאָדָם, כִּי יִרְשַׁע וְכִי יִצְדַּק. הֲלֹא מִלָּיו וּמִפְעָלָיו, כְּתוּבִים בְּסֵפֶר יָמָיו: 

חֲצוֹת (נ"א בְּעוֹד) לַיְלָה לְךָ קָמוּ, עֲבָדֶיךָ בְּמַהֲלָלָם. זְכוּת אָבוֹת לָהֶם תִּזְכֹּר, וְאַל תֵּפֶן לְמַעֲלָלָם. קְנֵה עֲדָתְךָ כִּימֵי קֶדֶם, קְדוֹשׁ יַעֲקֹב גֹּאֲלָם. וְהִנָּשֵׂא הָאֵל, עוֹשֶׂה הַשָּׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו: 

רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ:

Blowing The Shofar

Hadar Cohen

Hadar is an Arab Jewish multimedia artist, healer and educator based in Los Angeles. She is the founder of Malchut, a mystical school teaching direct experience of God through heart centered spiritual traditions. Hadar is a Jewish mystic who works to build decolonial frameworks for worshiping God. She is an artist weaving the spiritual with the political and her artistic mediums include performance, movement, writing, weaving, sound and ritual. 

Learn more about her work at hadarcohen.me

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Malchut

Malchut is a mystical school teaching direct experience of God through heart-centered spiritual traditions.

Check out our capstone offering God Fellowship- a 12 week online self-paced training on direct experience of God.

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