Starting Selichos on Motzoei Shabbos

Q. The general custom of Ashkenazim is to begin reciting Selichos this Motzei Shabbos. Why do we always begin the recitation of Selichos on a Motzei Shabbos?

A. Mishnah Berurah (581:6) explains that we always begin Selichos on Motzei Shabbos so there should be a uniform starting date for Selichos.

Another explanation is offered by Sefer Leket Yosher (OC 118:1 – a 15th century student of the Trumas HaDeshen). He writes that we always begin Selichos on Sunday, because we want to connect Selichos with Shabbos. After Shabbos we are in a state of simcha (joy) because of the Torah which we have learned on that day, and because of our fulfillment of the mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos (enjoying the delicacies of Shabbos). It is with this atmosphere of simcha that we wish to begin reciting Selichos because the Divine Presence does not descend upon those who are depressed, but on those who experience the simcha of performing mitzvos (Shabbos 30b). On Motzei Shabbos, when we are still filled with the joy of Shabbos, it is an auspicious time to begin beseeching Hashem for forgiveness. The Shaarei Teshuva (OC 581:1) points out that ordinarily we must wait until after Chatzos (midnight) to recite the Yud Gimmel Middos, but other parts of the Selichos such as Mizmorim and Vidui may be said before Chatzos. However, on Motzei Shabbos we may not recite any part of Selichos until after Chatzos, because the kedusha of Shabbos remains until Chatzos. Just like it is inappropriate to recite Selichos on Shabbos, so too one must wait after Shabbos until the kedusha of Shabbos has departed.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.