Slichot Prayers Begin at Western Wall with New Cultural Events and Tours
Today marks Rosh Chodesh Elul, a significant date that signals the start of the yeshiva academic year, preparation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the beginning of the month of mercy and forgiveness. From Saturday night, Sephardic and Mizrahi communities will begin reciting Slichot prayers, traditionally said after midnight or early morning hours, considered a "favorable time" when divine mercy is heightened according to Kabbalah. The Ashkenazi custom is to start Slichot from the Saturday night closest to Rosh Hashanah.
Throughout Elul, the Western Wall plaza fills nightly with worshippers reciting Slichot, with many synagogues opening late at night or early morning. Some pray during the day to avoid sleep deprivation. Slichot prayers vary by community, with different liturgical poems (piyutim) composed by figures like Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gabirol, Rabbeinu Gershom, and Rashi, and additional customs in communities from Italy, Libya, Georgia, Poland, Lithuania, Yemen, and Prague. Sephardic versions remain mostly unchanged daily, while Ashkenazi prayers differ each day. The core of Slichot is the recitation of the "13 Attributes of Mercy," believed to have been revealed to Moses when pleading for forgiveness after the sin of the Golden Calf.
Due to high demand, 19 major Slichot events with cantors, sound systems, and large screens will be held around the Western Wall to accommodate crowds and will be broadcast live on social media for those unable to attend. In recent years, Slichot piyutim have gained popularity beyond religious circles, inspiring new melodies, modern performances, and videos.
This cultural revival includes the "Slichot Tour" project by businessman and former public official Mishal Wakin, which produces elegant books and music albums of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Slichot. The project, now in its third year, will present a new show titled "The Binding of Isaac" on September 6 at Beit HaHayal in Tel Aviv, featuring Ehud Banai, Maya Blizman, and the Jerusalem Piyut Ensemble. The performance explores the 900-year-old biblical story of the Akedah through two famous piyutim from the 12th century and Leonard Cohen’s 20th-century composition, connecting religious and secular audiences in a shared cultural experience.
